Shadowbane is known to MMO devotees as a bastion of player-versus-player gameplay. I seem to remember sieges also being a big draw to bloodthirsty gamers. Ubisoft bought the game's developer, Wolfpack Studios, back in 2004 and closed the studio two years later – making Shadowbane a free-to-play game thereafter.

Here's part of the blurb posted to the game's site by Ubisoft:

We come to you now with regret and sadness, but also happiness and pride.. Regret and sadness that it has finally come to this, and as of May 1, 2009 the Shadowbane servers will be powered down once and for all. Yet happiness that it lasted so very long, and pride to be able to stand before such a passionate community to thank you for your undying support and unwavering loyalty to Shadowbane.

MMORPG Shadowbane to Shutter After Six Years [Gamasutra]

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]