The studio that brought "Hobt" and the popular role playing game "Torchlight" series, Runic Games, has been shut down by its mother company, publisher Perfect World Entertainment.
According to the China-based video game publisher, the shutting down of the Seattle-based developer is part of the company's strategy to focus on online games.
Perfect World Entertainment will continue to sell the developer's games. "Runic Games will remain a part of Perfect World Entertainment's portfolio of studios," said the publisher in a statement, "and its games will continue to be available to players, as we stay committed to supporting and growing Runic Games' beloved franchises."
Runic Games' studio head Marsh Lefler also released a statement, informing fans of the studio's closing and thanking them for their support. He assured that "Torchlight's" community and multiplayer will still be available despite the studio closing down. He also hinted about the future of the people who have been part of the studio.
"For those that love the 'Torchlight' series, there will be some news coming," Marsh said. "And for all our fans, our community and multiplayer services will keep running even after the studio's lights go off." The studio head added that "You haven't heard the last of us."
The studio was well-known for its "Torchlight" game series. The first game was released in 2009, followed by a sequel released in 2012. The games were designed by personnel who were responsible for other excellent games like "Fate," "Diablo" and "Diablo 2," and "Mythos."
Runic Games' majority stake was acquired by Chinese company Perfect World Entertainment in 2010.
Aside from Runic Games, Perfect World Entertainment also laid off most of the employees of Motiga, another Seattle-based developer which created the hero shooter "Gigantic." The battle arena game was just released in July and will continue to be developed, but only by a smaller team of staff that the publisher had retained.
