Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium no longer a MMO

More bad news for beleaguered publisher THQ. Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium will no longer be a MMO, as originally planned. Instead, it will be "an immersive single player and online multiplayer experience with robust digital content, and engaging community features."

"As previously announced, we have been actively looking for a business partner for the game as an MMO," THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell said in the surprise announcement. "However, based on changing market dynamics and the additional investment required to complete the game as an MMO, we believe the right direction for us is to shift the title from an MMO to a premium experience with single and multiplayer gameplay, robust digital content and community features."

"Because we believe strongly in the high-quality and vast creative work that is in production, this is the right decision for both our portfolio and for gamers devoted to this powerful property," Farrell added.

Disappointing financial results have caused the publisher to already implement severe layoffs. That trend will continue with the move away from a MMO model for Dark Millennium. As a result of today's decision, 79 full-time employees at Vigil Games and 39 employees at Relic Entertainment will be laid off.