I weep. I…weep (as does Jonathan, he’s quite literally inconsolable right now). In a move that can only be called, shocking, Disney is shutting down loved video game developer Lucas Arts. Confirmed this morning, the guys at Game Informer have just put validation to the rumor from late last night. The quote from Disney on the manner is cold and dark like Vaders robot shoulders
After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games. As a result of this change, we’ve had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles.
I guess it makes sense, from a business point of view. The company hasn’t put out that many AAA titles in recent years, and games such as Forced Unleashed 2 have had only average responses from critics. It appears though that Lucas Arts will exist in name only as it moves forward.
It is good to note that the stunning looking Star Wars 1313 will most likely still be released, though third party partners are being looked at to help the game get finished.
Some of my favorite games have come from the company. Our fearless leaders all time favorite, Monkey Island, is one of their most known titles, changed the way developers created adventure games and how writers approached humor in games.
We at Geekscape send our sincerest condolences to the employees that have been laid off, and hope that their future endeavors be as memorable as Lucas Arts.
What are your thoughts on the closure of Lucas Arts? What have been some of your favorite games from the company? Let us know!