It's not that we enjoy talking about THQ's miseries, though you'd be forgiven for thinking so, given the general volume of rather lousy news we've reported on the publisher in the last several months. Today's news probably isn't going to help matters, but we swear, we hate reporting on this. It's just that this stuff keeps happening.

Today's woeful news comes surrounding THQ's former Warhammer MMO, Dark Millennium. At one point not too long ago, industry fixture Kevin Dent proclaimed the game dead on twitter, which got THQ PR into a tizzy of denials, claiming the game was still in the works, though eventually conceding that the company was seeking a partner to help finance and publish the game.

Now Dent's proclamations of doom have been proven partially right, as the game has been shifted to a more traditional "premium" single- and multiplayer game. Dark Millennium, the MMO, is dead. Long live Dark Millennium, the single-player-focused adventure, apparently. The new version of Millennium will include online multiplayer, but it shall be decidedly less massive than previously intended.

As if that news weren't troubling enough, THQ decided to put a particularly unpleasant tasting cherry on top of this whole shit sundae by also announcing over a hundred layoffs, split between Vigil Games and Relic Entertainment. 79 were let go from Vigil, while 39 were laid off at Relic.

The layoffs were perhaps inevitable, given the shift in Dark Millennium's direction. Still, this is just the latest volley of layoffs surrounding THQ products in a year's span that has already seen several bouts of this. 240 employees were let go back in February, while last June THQ shuttered Kaos Studios, the team behind Homefront, altogether.

It's not that we enjoy talking about THQ's miseries, though you'd be forgiven for thinking so, given the general volume of rather lousy news we've reported on the publisher in the last several months. Today's news probably isn't going to help matters, but we swear, we hate reporting on this. It's just that this stuff keeps happening.

Today's woeful news comes surrounding THQ's former Warhammer MMO, Dark Millennium. At one point not too long ago, industry fixture Kevin Dent proclaimed the game dead on twitter, which got THQ PR into a tizzy of denials, claiming the game was still in the works, though eventually conceding that the company was seeking a partner to help finance and publish the game.

Now Dent's proclamations of doom have been proven partially right, as the game has been shifted to a more traditional "premium" single- and multiplayer game. Dark Millennium, the MMO, is dead. Long live Dark Millennium, the single-player-focused adventure, apparently. The new version of Millennium will include online multiplayer, but it shall be decidedly less massive than previously intended.

As if that news weren't troubling enough, THQ decided to put a particularly unpleasant tasting cherry on top of this whole shit sundae by also announcing over a hundred layoffs, split between Vigil Games and Relic Entertainment. 79 were let go from Vigil, while 39 were laid off at Relic.

The layoffs were perhaps inevitable, given the shift in Dark Millennium's direction. Still, this is just the latest volley of layoffs surrounding THQ products in a year's span that has already seen several bouts of this. 240 employees were let go back in February, while last June THQ shuttered Kaos Studios, the team behind Homefront, altogether.

yeah

THQ is going to ruin the Warhammer franchise. I think another developer should get a hold of it now and see what they can do.

I would still absolutely play a non-MMO Vigil made Warhammer 40k action-RPG.

relic :/

fuck your fucking drawing board thq

Sad

@TheHT said:

I would still absolutely play a non-MMO Vigil made Warhammer 40k action-RPG.

Yeah, that appeals to me more than an MMO to be honest. It could be a good thing in the long run?

This is a damn shame. I respect relic all to hell and their games should sell better then they do. And I don't know what the problem is... lack luster marketing? I avoided company of heroes for years, it always seemed like a generic WW2 RTS. When I actually played it, I found it was the best RTS I've ever played next to Starcraft. It's one of my favorite PC games and it has an MIND BLOWING attention to detail. You can feel the love in that title.

When people say that if you make a quality title, the sales will come, I point to relic as one of the most underrated developers out there.

I wish somebody would come buy Relic and save them from the shitstorm that is coming.

What does it mean for Darksiders 2?

Well, Damnit.

This was probably my most anticipated MMO.

I will still gladly play a Warhammer 40k Multiplayer RPG, at least.

sigh

Damn I like Vigil. Hope those employees can find new jobs swiftly.

@TheHT said:

I would still absolutely play a non-MMO Vigil made Warhammer 40k action-RPG.

Yeah, basically this. In a way I find myself more excited for the game now, although sad for all those who lost their jobs. Best of luck to them.

" Dark Millennium, the MMO, is dead.

FICKLE FUCKING FUUUUCK.

It breaks my heart to see Vigil and Relic get hit by layoffs.

But on the bright side I am now super excited for Dark Millennium. Can't wait!

:(

THQ is going to ruin the Warhammer franchise. I think another developer should get a hold of it now and see what they can do.

Slowly but sure, THQ is falling apart.

I'm upset about this. I was looking forward to this game.

@Winternet said:

Slowly but sure, THQ is falling apart.

Brought down to it's knees by this...

GOD.DAMMIT. THIS IS HERESY.

I don't usually check the bylines on these posts, but when I saw the phrase "shit sundae" I knew it was an Alex Navarro joint.

@Jeffsekai said:

GOD.DAMMIT. THIS IS HERESY.

SURELY!

These people lost their jobs while the idiots higher up who made the poor decisions that led to THQ's current crisis get to keep theirs, what a great system.

And to the people saying it's better in the long run, that's just cold.

All the 40k games these companies have made have been awesome, I really don't see why they didn't sell better. Even if you don't know about the universe, shouldn't the look of it really appeal to people who love stuff like Halo and GTA? As much as I love 40k, the aesthetic is obviously very junior high boy doodles, like heavy metal album covers.

I really fucking hope this doesn't impact Darksiders 2 in any way whatsoever.

Man, working WH40k into a MMO was about the only way I'd every pay for one on a subscription basis.

I mean, I'd still run out and grab whatever this turns into, but I hope there's a finished product at the end of all of this.

Well, that sucks, on both counts - especially sorry about the developers, but I guess that's pretty inevitable if the game gets scaled down from being an MMO, especially with how things seem to be going at THQ. Man... sure hope they manage to stay alive, somehow.

Dark Millenium the Not-MMO still sounds pretty interesting though. Kind of guessing we're talking about something like Space Marine 2 in that case, though.

This is because assholes stole the chainsaw+gun concept. Gears of War! *shakes fist*

This is because assholes stole the Space Marine concept. Starcraft! *shakes fist*

This is because...

-dies-

I don't really care about the game, but what is this saying about THQ as a whole? The future of Saints Row and Darksiders hangs in the balance, folks.

That is too bad. I was really looking forward to this MMO. At least the spirit of the game isn't totally dead and lives on in a smaller experience. I do hope that one day a true 40k MMO comes to life.

I hope that the people who gave the word on acquiring Udraw also lost their jobs as it might have been okay but they sunk way too much into it. As someone also recently laid off from work, best of luck to all the people let go from Relic & Vigil.

Damn.. :(

@Phyreball: It would be perfect for an MMO with a proper combat system. Maybe something coming out 5 years from now can do the IP justice, who knows - perhaps this was for the best.

@TheHT said:

I would still absolutely play a non-MMO Vigil made Warhammer 40k action-RPG.

This. Vigil and Relic are two the strongest commodities that THQ has at its disposal right now, and they are shortening THAT part of the staff? For goddamn shame, man.

Yet again, as always, hope the duders that got laid off pick up work soon...and I also hope this doesn't affect Darksiders II being released at all.

@mordukai said:

@Winternet said:

Slowly but sure, THQ is falling apart.

Brought down to it's knees by this...

To be fair, the Wii sold fine from what I've heard. It's the X360 and PS3 tablets that is killing THQ.

Sad to see people lose their jobs. Not so much on the Warhammer 40k game changing from an MMO to a single player game.

That really sucks, Relic has consistently made awesome games. Vigil's looking good too. How does this affect Darksiders II?

Honestly, I'm more interested in seeing a single player action RPG from Vigil and Relic then a MMO.

Udraw strikes again!

It blows to hear about those layoffs, good luck to those duders.

Please, PLEASE let Metro: Last Light come out.

@jakob187 said:

@TheHT said:

I would still absolutely play a non-MMO Vigil made Warhammer 40k action-RPG.

This. Vigil and Relic are two the strongest commodities that THQ has at its disposal right now, and they are shortening THAT part of the staff? For goddamn shame, man.

What about Volition?

@TheHT said:

I would still absolutely play a non-MMO Vigil made Warhammer 40k action-RPG.

This!

I am actually more interested in Dark Millennium now than before!

I am sad because with every bit of bad news related to Relic, Homeworld 3 is that much farther away. :(

FFS I wanted a 40k mmo. Haven't liked a 40k game yet and Ive never played the tabletop but the lore fascinates me.

@jakob187 said:

This. Vigil and Relic are two the strongest commodities that THQ has at its disposal right now, and they are shortening THAT part of the staff? For goddamn shame, man.

Nope. Volition is.

Dammit, shame to hear Relic got hit for stupid mistakes made higher up. Be interesting to see what Dark Millennium turns out to be. Don't exactly have high hopes for a single player game salvaged from the dead husk of an MMO. Can we just get Homeworld 3 now?

@Rincewind: Sadly given GWs history they'll probably let THQs right to the WH40k universe run it's course and if it goes bad, they'll sit on the video game rights to the IP for about 10 years before giving it another chance.

Relic need to get back to what they are good at. Company of Heroes 2 please!

Fuck man, it's just terrible news and more terrible news, I really hope THQ can pull themselves out of this. I was looking forward to Dark Millennium, I'm still hoping for a decent product.