Daedalic Entertainment from Germany has just made a significant business decision that may not come as a shock to some. Following the less-than-ideal launch of its game Lord of the Rings: Gollum, and trying to address the backlash, the Gollum developers have opted to discontinue all internal development operations. This means that the studio does not plan on developing any more games after this.
As part of this strategic shift, all ongoing internal projects, including the development of another Lord of the Rings title that started last year, will be dropped entirely. But still, this is not the end. Daedalic Entertainment will now concentrate its efforts on publishing, licensing, sales, and marketing endeavors.
Daedalic Entertainment Halting All Development
In an official statement provided to a German outlet, the publisher described this choice as a “challenging turning point.” But also emphasized its significance as “a fresh chapter in the extensive history of Daedalic Entertainment.” Regrettably, this decision will impact a minimum of 25 employees. The Gollum developers expressed its utmost appreciation for every team member and their dedication, vowing to facilitate a smooth transition by assisting them in securing new opportunities within the company’s network.
Following multiple delays, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum came out in May for consoles and PC, co-published by Nacon and Daedalic. However, the game was not well-received at all, with both critics and fans expressing unanimous dissatisfaction.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum currently holds the lowest position everywhere reviews can be found, and is widely considered to be one of the weakest titles to come out this year. Shortly after the game’s release, Daedalic publicly apologized for what it acknowledged as a subpar gaming experience. It expressed deep regret that the final product did not live up to expectations. and even committed to rectifying its shortcomings through future updates. But unfortunately, that will not happen now.
