Titan Quest creator Iron Lore Entertainment has announced that it has closed its doors and ceased game development, due to lack of funding for its next project.
The Maynard, MA-based developer was founded in October 2000 by Age Of Empires co-creator Brian Sullivan and Paul Chieffo.
The company is chiefly known for creating the THQ-published PC action-RPG title Titan Quest, which helped it to win Best New Studio at the 2006 Game Developers Choice Awards. It had more recently worked on Dawn Of War: Soulstorm, an expansion for the Relic-developed PC real-time strategy series which is due out early next month.
"It is with great regret that we must announce that as of close of business Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Iron Lore Entertainment has ceased active game development. Several unrelated events occurred which resulted in Iron Lore being unable to secure funding for its next project.
We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who has helped us in the last seven years – our team who moved mountains to create such great games, our publisher THQ who has been a great partner through three product development cycles, and most of all our customers and fans.
We owe all of the success we’ve had to you, and our greatest satisfaction has come from creating games that have given enjoyment to the community.
While Iron Lore will not continue, the talent of the team is embodied in the individuals now available for other opportunities."
More information on staff availability and engine licensing is available on the official Iron Lore website. Gamasutra and associated publication Game Developer is currently working with the Iron Lore principals to bring our readers more information on the company's closing.
This is a shame. Good luck to all those guys in the future and hopefully the fact that such a talented group of people couldn't find financial stability doesn't sour them on staying in the game industry.
