Runic Games Closes Its Doors

Legendary video game studio Runic Games is shutting down. The Torchlight and Hob developers [...]

By Matthew Hayes

torchlight

Legendary video game studio Runic Games is shutting down. The Torchlight and Hob developers released an official statement on their website earlier this afternoon, and it's heartbreaking. This is what studio head Marsh Lefler had to say:

"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,"

Torchlight is one of the only games I've played since my Diablo II days that had me as invested as I was in Diablo II. It was such a rich, addictive, and polished dungeon-crawling RPG, and I'm not the only one who thought so. Runic's latest, Hob, was also critically acclaimed and adored by players. This is one of the few studios out there that seemed like it was doing everything right, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling a little devastated by its closure.

Needless to say, we wish everyone at Runic Games luck in finding new jobs very soon. We know that they're the best in the industry, so we can't wait to see what they do next.

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