The future of Fantastic Pixel Castle’s ambitious MMORPG, Ghost, hangs precariously in the balance. Studio head Greg Street has confirmed that their publishing agreement with NetEase Games is concluding. With a development team boasting former lead systems designers from World of Warcraft and numerous veterans from both Blizzard and Riot Games, Ghost was poised to be one of the most exciting new MMOs in years. However, Street’s stark warning reveals a grim reality: “If we’re unable to find a publisher soon, the studio would likely close, and the entire team, leadership included, would be affected.”
Only a couple of months ago, we caught our first glimpse of actual gameplay from the project, simply titled Ghost. While still in its early stages, the pedigree of talent at Fantastic Pixel Castle, comprised of industry heavyweights, made it impossible not to pay attention. Crafting a top-tier MMORPG is a monumental undertaking, and it was always understood that considerable time would be needed before the game could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with titans like FF14, World of Warcraft, and Guild Wars 2.
Yet, the very future of the project is now uncertain. “I wanted to share the news that Fantastic Pixel Castle’s time as a first-party studio within NetEase Games is coming to an end,” Street announced. He clarified that NetEase has been “very gracious and supportive” in helping them seek a new publisher, but lamented that “in the current market environment very few deals are getting made for any game, let alone something on the scale of an MMORPG.”
“We’re doing everything possible to secure a new publisher or investor,” Street explained, adding that Fantastic Pixel Castle is also “encouraging our team members to explore future opportunities and supporting them through the uncertainty.” He extended gratitude to the dedicated community, playtesters, “and the literally hundreds of people who have given us advice on how to find funding in this absurdly challenging time for our industry. I hope you all will have a chance to play Ghost.”
The MMORPG landscape has remained relatively stagnant for quite some time, with World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV continuing their dominance while a few new contenders like Throne and Liberty strive for a foothold. Other promising titles on the horizon include the dungeon-centric Fellowship, which has shown considerable potential, and the massive undertaking that is Ashes of Creation. Considering the recent cancellation of ESO creator Zenimax Online’s next MMORPG, the loss of Ghost would undeniably be another significant setback for the genre.
Concluding his statement, Street expressed profound gratitude to his team. “I know it’s cliché to say this, but demonstrably this is the best team I have ever worked with,” he remarked. “We are rigorous in collecting data, and the data on our team morale and performance is higher than I have ever seen. Despite the challenges, the past two years have been the most satisfying of my career.”
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