Well, bad news for anyone who took us up on our recent post inviting you to download Shadowbane for free. Guess what! Shadowbane going free was just the precursor to the entire development team, Wolfbane Studios, being canned and the game being cancelled. Or, as Shadowbane community Ashen Temper puts it:

I wasn't going to post this initially but I figure the word is already out (I've already seen it on a few webzines as well as a multitude of forums). Yes, the rumor is true: I am looking for a new job. No, I did not get fired. Nor am I the only one looking for a job. We were recently informed that as of mid-May 2006, the doors of Wolfpack Studios will be closing. Ubisoft, our parent company, will be refocusing their efforts on the console market with the new fiscal year, what with the new systems coming to market such as the X-box 360, PS3, and the Nintendo GO! (or so the rumors call it lately). This is not an unheard of practice; many game publishing companies tend to put a majority of their efforts into development of games for new systems. It is best to strike when the iron is hot, as the saying goes.

What does this mean for Shadowbane? Truth be told, I really don't know. I wish I did because I don't only work on the game, I play it too. Once I do know something and can officially state as much, I'll let you all know.

Great! Ever wondered what it was like to play an MMORPG during the last stages of entropy? Why not give Shadowbane a shot. After all, it's free. Playing now could be an excellent inside look at what the end of the real world will look like!

Wolfpack Closed Down [Ashen Temper]

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