Former WoW Designer’s MMO Studio Officially Closes After Funding Ends

Fantastic Pixel Castle, the MMO studio led by former World of Warcraft designer Greg Street, has officially closed its doors after funding from NetEase came to an end. Street announced the closure on LinkedIn, stating that the studio’s first priority is to help its developers find employment.

Less than a month after warning that Fantastic Pixel Castle would likely close without a new publisher, Street confirmed the worst had happened. The studio will cease operations on November 17.

Street expressed a desire to prioritize the well-being of the developers, stating, ‘While we’d love to make our game, our first priority is to help our developers find employment, whether that’s at indie studio Fantastic Pixel Castle 2.0 or at other game and tech companies.’

This closure marks the end of a two-year journey for Fantastic Pixel Castle, which aimed to create a modern MMO under Street’s leadership. Despite the setback, Street remains hopeful for the future of the team and the possibility of securing funding down the line.

NetEase’s decision to shut down Fantastic Pixel Castle adds to the list of canceled MMO projects led by industry veterans. The closure serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by game developers in securing funding and maintaining studio operations.