Daedalic Entertainment, the company behind the recently released The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, is reportedly exiting game development and laying off around 25 employees. In addition, a second Lord of the Rings game that was in development at the studio has been cancelled.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which was announced in 2019 and faced numerous setbacks and delays, finally arrived last month. However, it received a less-than-positive reception, with Eurogamer’s Christian Donlan giving it a 1 out of 5 review and calling it a “well-intentioned mess.” Despite this, reports emerged that Daedalic was working on a second Lord of the Rings game.
According to German website Games Wirtschaft, the second game, which had been in development since mid-2022, has now been cancelled. This decision comes as Daedalic shifts away from game development and focuses solely on publishing due to the poor reception of Gollum.
In a statement provided to Games Wirtschaft, Daedalic confirmed that 25 employees out of a team of over 90 would lose their jobs as a result of this shift in focus. The company expressed its commitment to supporting these employees in finding new opportunities within its network.
Surviving Deponia, a new entry in Daedalic’s Deponia series being developed by external studio AtomicTorch, will not be affected by these changes.
Daedalic, known for its point-and-click adventure games, has faced challenges in recent years. Its adaptations of Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth and the strategy game A Year of Rain failed to find a significant audience. The company also closed its Düsseldorf and Munich studios in 2021.
As Daedalic exits game development, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the company and its employees.
What factors contributed to the poor reception of Daedalic Entertainment’s game, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum?
In a surprising turn of events, Daedalic Entertainment, the renowned game development company behind The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, is reportedly leaving the game development industry. This decision comes after the release of Gollum, which has faced significant criticism and received a lukewarm reception from players and reviewers alike.
The highly anticipated game, which was announced back in 2019, encountered several setbacks and delays before finally hitting the shelves last month. Unfortunately, it failed to meet expectations, with Eurogamer’s Christian Donlan giving it a disappointing 1 out of 5 review and labeling it a “well-intentioned mess.” Despite these negative reviews, there were reports circulating that Daedalic was already working on a second Lord of the Rings game.
However, according to the German website Games Wirtschaft, the development of this second game, which had been underway since mid-2022, has now been abruptly canceled. Daedalic has made the decision to shift its focus away from game development entirely and concentrate solely on publishing. This change in direction is mainly due to the poor reception of Gollum and the company’s aim to reassess its strategies moving forward.
As a result of this shift, around 25 employees out of a team of over 90 are expected to be laid off. In a statement provided to Games Wirtschaft, Daedalic expressed its commitment to supporting these affected employees in finding new opportunities within its network. It remains to be seen how this change will impact the talented staff and what the future holds for both the company and its employees.
Fortunately, not all projects will be affected by these changes. Surviving Deponia, a new addition to Daedalic’s beloved Deponia series, is currently being developed by the external studio AtomicTorch and will proceed as planned.
Daedalic Entertainment, known for its renowned point-and-click adventure games, has faced various challenges in recent years. Its adaptations of Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth and the strategy game A Year of Rain failed to resonate with a broader audience. Additionally, the company had to close its Düsseldorf and Munich studios in 2021, adding to the struggles it has faced.
As Daedalic embarks on this new chapter, only time will tell what lies ahead for the company and its dedicated employees.
It’s disappointing to hear that Daedalic Entertainment has decided to cancel the development of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, but it’s important for a company to recognize when a project isn’t meeting expectations. Hopefully, this shift in focus will lead to more successful endeavors in the future for the studio.
It’s disappointing to hear that Daedalic Entertainment has been forced to cancel the development of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum due to poor reception. It’s always tough when a studio has to shift focus, but hopefully, they’ll bounce back with exciting projects in the future.