http://runicgames.com/

https://twitter.com/RunicGames/status/926518517397987333


Hey everyone,

It’s been over nine years since a rag-tag team of 17 developers helped open Runic Games. We’ve been so lucky for the community that has supported us and made us successful. Thanks to that support, we have had the chance to meet and work with the best people in the world. Our team here at Runic has released three successful games, and over that time we have seen many changes; team members got married, kids were born, but the most important thing is that we have become a family.

I’m sorry to say that today will be Runic’s last day open. Our focus is on our family here, and helping them find a new place to call home. If you are in games and looking for some of the best talent in the industry, please email jobs@runicgames.com.

For those that love the Torchlight series, there will be some news coming. And for all our fans, our community and multiplayer services will keep running even after the studio's lights go off.

It has been an amazing experience. To my family here at Runic, I know we won’t be far from each other, and I’ll miss seeing you all every week.

You haven’t heard the last of us,

Marsh Lefler
Studio Head

Thank god I finally got around to buying TL 2 here.

I hope they all get good jobs.

Also: Grab them before they end up in license hell: https://www.gog.com/games?devpub=runic_games_inc&sort=popularity&page=1

Sorry to see them go!

Should I get HOB or is it safe?

I'm really sad to hear this. Runic games have been great supporters of gaming outside of Steam.

I bought the first Torchlight direct from their site. And when I told them their site made it hard to buy multiple copies, they told me I was free to install and play on any of my families computers off that one license.

Thoroughly decent people.

Sounds like Hob didn't do so well for them.

It sounds like it might be voluntary? Hopefully...

Considering they were pretty much owned by Perfect World, that probably was not the case.

https://kotaku.com/big-layoffs-at-studio-behind-gigantic-studio-behind-to-1820120915 Check the kotaku article that i linked .

Heh I haven't.

I planned on it. Just haven't had the funds when it was on sale.

I'm not being rude here but is one really supposed to expect stellar sales with a nondescript three letter name like that?

"Perfect World Entertainment recently closed the Seattle office of Runic Games as part of the company’s continued strategy to focus on online games as a service."

%^#@*&#^$%@&@!!!

Does the name even matter these days? Most of the good names are already taken up anyway, what with the never-ending avalanche of Indie releases. I figure people these days check out lets-plays, trailers, ratings on Steam/ Metacritic etc. ... I'm not sure the name of a game release is much of a factor. I certainly don't base my purchases on it, and don't expect a game's title to tell me much about its gameplay.

Anyhow, I'm somewhat shocked about this news. As far as I can tell, they consistently delivered high quality, and most of their games are quite popular. I've started playing Hob a while back, and it's a very well made game and seems to have received positive ratings/reviews. Is it really selling that badly? Or is there another reason for this, unrelated to the success of their latest game?
Well, I suppose that explains it. "Perfect World" my ass.

Just the usual trend of profit maximization, then, nothing new to see here.

Yes. Hob makes me think of Hobnob biscuts which makes me think of a mystery involving missing cookies, not a colorful platformer set in what looks like yet another ruined world.