Eidos is set to close down soccer strategy MMO
Championship Manager Online on April 30, bringing an end to nearly five years of operations.
Swedish studio Jadestone, who co-developed the game along with Beautiful Game Studio,
told consumer site C&VG that it could not discuss the closure due to "contractual obligations."
"The game, the brand, the internet domain and the subscriptions are all owned by Eidos and the decision to cease the service is entirely theirs to make," continued the statement. "The decision was made unilaterally by them, and we are not at liberty to comment on any reasoning."
According to the report, three-month subscriptions can't be signed or renewed; one-month subscriptions end March 30, but premium subscriptions last until the official closure date.
"Finally, we only have one more thing to say," Jadestone's statement concluded. "Thank you, and we're sorry."
Square Enix, now parent of Eidos and thus UK-based Beautiful Game Studios, laid off or relocated about 80 percent of the
Championship Manager team in November 2009. Beautiful said at the time needed to "re-focus our vision for the franchise and redefine our business model."
