Torchlight MMO on hold as Runic takes a break

Runic Games executives have commented that the long-planned Torchlight MMO probably won't be its next project, after having wrapped up Torchlight 2.

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After going from Torchlight straight into Torchlight 2, Runic Games needs a little break. While the long-planned MMO may still be in the cards, the company says it's not hopping straight into the next project so soon.

"While we have no plans to begin work on an MMO, that's partly because we have no plans, period!" company CEO Max Schaefer told Joystiq. "We're waiting to do the Mac port of Torchlight 2, and fix whatever launch issues we have, and then decide after we've had a good night's sleep or three. It is likely that nothing that would be called an MMO is the next thing we do, though, but that's not 100 percent certain."

Runic president Travis Baldree echoed these comments on a Reddit thread, citing a different MMO landscape than existed when the project was first proposed. It sounds like Runic may put the Torchlight MMO plans on hold indefinitely and try something completely different, but only time will tell.

Torchlight 2 launched today.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    September 20, 2012 4:15 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Torchlight MMO on hold as Runic takes a break.

    Runic Games executives have commented that the long-planned Torchlight MMO probably won't be its next project, after having wrapped up Torchlight 2.

    • reply
      September 20, 2012 5:00 PM

      Personally my advice would be don't do it stick to MP and SP and follow your model in TL2. Take a year off and then make Torchlight 3 when ever you are ready.

      Torchlight 3 would = instant purchase to all your TL2 owners

      Well those are my thoughts I actually wish all games would follow TL2's model --> SP offline and co op MP.

      • reply
        September 21, 2012 5:56 AM

        I'm with you on this. I used to think a Torchlight MMO would be fun, but as I'm getting into Torchlight 2--and loving it--I see no reason for them to try to force their way into a crowded market.

        TL2 is exactly the kind of game it needs to be: solid single-player with room for cooperative multi. They should take a breather, perhaps make a totally different game, and then be ready to take another step forward with Torchlight 3.

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          September 21, 2012 8:54 AM

          Definitely. Add more classes, content, etc... And TLIII will be incredible

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      September 20, 2012 5:20 PM

      Here's the thing that worries me. Runic was picked up by Perfect World. I'm pretty dang sure that it was with the understanding that Runic would be making another F2P MMO that they could capitalize on. Now, I won't be upset at all if they decide to completely avoid making an MMO, but the real question is, will PWI actually let them?

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      September 20, 2012 5:26 PM

      [deleted]

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        September 20, 2012 6:41 PM

        it's more like a company that realized the folly of their original plan. The Torchlight MMO was the goal even before Torchlight 1, they just intelligently scoped the concept to a budget title to get the fundamentals in place before going MMO. The success that brought and the shift in the MMO space made for a pretty easy evaluation of that strategy today.

    • reply
      September 20, 2012 5:48 PM

      So how's the MMO landscape nowadays? People still playing them?

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        September 20, 2012 5:50 PM

        nope noone plays that shit

      • reply
        September 20, 2012 5:51 PM

        [deleted]

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        September 20, 2012 5:59 PM

        Too many mmo's trying to be WoW, none of them doing it as well,

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        September 20, 2012 6:39 PM

        depends on if they're F2P or subscription based

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        September 20, 2012 7:32 PM

        Any of you responders even know what youre talking about? WoW barely keeps its king status, and games like GW2 and other F2P options are creeping up. The MMO gamescape is very much alive, as long you find a game you like to play.

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          September 20, 2012 8:56 PM

          Yeah, just barely. http://users.telenet.be/mmodata/Charts/Subs-1.png

          • Ebu legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
            reply
            September 20, 2012 9:07 PM

            It's only equal to all of the rest combined. What's the big deal!

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            September 21, 2012 9:03 AM

            oh man that Star Wars line is pitiful..

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          September 20, 2012 9:25 PM

          Way to call everyone out on not knowing what they're talking about when you don't even know what you're talking about.

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          September 21, 2012 12:38 AM

          Barely? Uh... what? No other MMO has ever come CLOSE at all to WoW.

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          September 21, 2012 8:52 AM

          Even in waning popularity, WoW crushes even the closest competitor. I'm really hoping Guild Wars 2 does well because they do so much so right.

          I do think the subscription model is going out the door in favor of F2P / microtransaction based games though.

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          September 21, 2012 10:02 AM

          WoW will sell their latest expansion for $60 and collect $15/month from roughly 10 million people. Guild Wars 2 sold for $60 to 1 million people (and who knows what they are getting from the gem store). I'm not saying one is better than the other, but its pretty obvious that even after 8 years, WoW is still dominant.

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        September 21, 2012 6:07 AM

        Just a wee bit. WoW is still way up there and will go up again with the new expansion hitting this upcoming Tuesday. Guild Wars 2 came out of the gate really good. Eve is going up as usual. While SWTOR has gone down I have a feeling after it goes ftp you'll see an uptick.

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      September 20, 2012 8:52 PM

      I want their sci-fi arpg talk to come to light. Love torchlight but I'm done with mmos

      • reply
        September 21, 2012 12:34 AM

        That sounds way more interesting than an mmo.

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      September 20, 2012 9:57 PM

      That's smart, I wasn't looking forward to them pouring resources into another failed one.

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      September 21, 2012 8:44 AM

      Here's a guess: TL3 will have the same mechanics and graphics but be F2P and funded by TF2 style loot drops and a D3 style auction house. Offline only mode will be available for $5-10 but loot/characters won't transfer.

      There's too much money to be made in the segment by going F2P for it to sit empty and no one (except Blizzard) has the install base/expertise to pull it off.

    • reply
      September 21, 2012 8:48 AM

      I'd rather they added splitscreen co-op for consoles into torchlight 2. instant buy

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