League Of Geeks, the Australian game development studio, has announced that they are going “into hibernation”. This decision comes after over 13 years of being an independent studio. The team has decided to take an extended break due to the current economic situation in the gaming industry. The future of the studio is uncertain, as they are not sure when or if they will revive League Of Geeks.
Despite having released games like Armello and Solium Infernum, League Of Geeks faced challenges with sales. Solium Infernum received positive reviews this year, but unfortunately, it did not generate enough revenue to support further development or DLC. This setback, in addition to the studio pausing development of Jumplight Odyssey and laying off half the team due to operating costs and poor sales, led to the decision to go into hibernation.
The studio cited the weak Australian dollar as one of the factors contributing to their struggles. Additionally, the inability to secure timely investments for Jumplight Odyssey meant that further development on the game was not feasible. League Of Geeks had hoped that the release of Solium Infernum would secure the studio’s future, but unfortunately, it was not enough to sustain their operations.
League Of Geeks mentioned that while the majority of their team has moved on to other opportunities, those who remain will take a well-deserved break. The studio is uncertain about whether they will bring back League Of Geeks, but they expressed gratitude for what they have accomplished over the years. They plan to release Jumplight Odyssey out of Early Access within the next 12 months, although it will not be the fully realized version they originally envisioned.
The decision to put League Of Geeks into hibernation reflects the challenges faced by independent game developers in the ever-changing gaming industry. Despite their best efforts and successful releases, financial constraints and unsuccessful projects have led to this outcome. The future of League Of Geeks remains uncertain, but their legacy in the gaming community will be remembered for years to come.