Originally Project Athia, and finally Forspoken was to be one of the hits of early 2023. Unfortunately, the hopes placed on the project were not fulfilled. The game received moderate reviews from both critics and players, mainly due to numerous technical problems and an uninteresting plot. The ambitious project also did not help the Luminous Productions studio, which – as it turns out – will soon end its activities in its current form.
The information was provided in a message published on the company’s channel on the website Twitter. The statement reads that from May 1, 2023, the Luminous Productions team will become part of the parent company Square Enix (under which it operated as an internal team from 2018)losing the de facto status of an independent studio.
However, this does not mean that developers will stop working on development and improvement The prophesied. The developers emphasized that they are “still completely focused” on their title. The proof of this is the update currently being prepared to improve the game’s performance, and the DLC planned for the summer In Tanta We Trust. You can read the full text of the announcement below:
You’ve probably heard the news that Luminous Productions is merging with Square Enix. Starting May 1, our talented team will join Square Enix to bring innovative new gaming experiences to gamers around the world. We are still completely focused on The prophesied. We are currently working on the previously announced patch to address the overall game performance issue (we will deliver an update soon) and DLC In Tanta We Trust, which is on track for release this summer. Thanks again for your patience and support!
When we founded Luminous Productions in 2018, our dream was to create AAA games that combine technology and artistry to deliver a whole new gaming experience. Having the chance to do just that was a dream come true. We appreciate you joining us on this journey and we look forward to continuing to create new entertainment and experiences as part of the Square Enix family.
While the exact reason for the pseudo-closure has not been revealed, the announcement came just weeks after The prophesied it began to receive lukewarm reviews.
The developers did not reveal whether Square Enix’s absorption of the team will mean the end of Luminous Engine – a proprietary graphics engine that was undoubtedly one of the company’s greatest achievements. Recall that the technology was used in both Luminous Productions titles: Final Fantasy XV and The prophesied.
