Fantastic Pixel Castle’s ambitious MMORPG, Ghost, is in serious jeopardy. The studio head, Greg Street, a former lead systems designer for World of Warcraft, has confirmed that their publishing agreement with NetEase Games is coming to an end. This news, with an update from August 10, 2025, detailing additional comments from Street, casts a shadow over a project many veterans from Blizzard and Riot Games have poured their expertise into.
Ghost has long been considered one of the most exciting upcoming MMORPGs, especially given the pedigree of its development team. Nearly two months ago, we got a glimpse of early in-game footage. While clearly still in development, the talent behind Fantastic Pixel Castle had many keenly watching its progress. Creating a successful MMORPG is a monumental undertaking, requiring significant time and resources to even hope to rival established giants like Final Fantasy XIV, World of Warcraft, and Guild Wars 2.
Unfortunately, the game might not even reach that stage. Street explained that Fantastic Pixel Castle’s tenure as a first-party studio with NetEase Games is concluding. He praised NetEase for their support in the search for a new publisher, but also highlighted the harsh reality: “in the current market environment very few deals are getting made for any game, let alone something on the scale of an MMORPG.”
The team is actively pursuing every avenue to secure a new publisher or investor. Street has also encouraged his team members to explore other opportunities, providing support during this uncertain period. He expressed gratitude to the community, playtesters, and the numerous individuals who have offered advice during this “absurdly challenging time” for the industry, hoping that everyone will still get a chance to experience Ghost.
The MMO genre hasn’t seen a significant shakeup in years, with World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV continuing their rivalry. While new titles like Throne and Liberty attempt to break through, and others like the dungeon-focused Fellowship and the colossal Ashes of Creation loom on the horizon, the potential loss of Ghost, especially after Zenimax Online’s next MMO was canceled, would be another major blow to the genre’s landscape.
Street concluded by commending his team, stating that “demonstrably this is the best team I have ever worked with.” He noted that despite the difficulties, the team’s morale and performance data are the highest he’s ever witnessed, making the past two years the most satisfying of his career.
In a follow-up post, Street shared that the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. He revealed two alternative plans should they fail to secure full MMO investment. One option is a “downscoped version of the game” focusing on multiplayer sessions, similar to a fantasy-themed Helldivers or a brighter Elden Ring Nightreign. This version would require half the budget, is already halfway complete, and could potentially evolve into a full MMORPG over time. The second option involves offering his “fully staffed, global veteran team” to work on other projects.
For those keeping an eye on new gaming experiences, many exciting upcoming PC games are still on the horizon. Players can also explore various engaging multiplayer games available right now.