In a disappointing but expected announcement, the developers of the 2020 action RPG Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem have revealed they are ending all further development and support for the game. Additionally, the title’s multiplayer functionality will be terminated completely as of September 3rd, 2024.
The news comes from a post by Wolcen Studio, the small independent team behind the Diablo-inspired game which drew initial buzz but struggled to maintain momentum after a rocky launch plagued by bugs and technical issues.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce…Wolcen will no longer support multiplayer functionality,” the statement reads. “Additionally, we will cease further development and support for the game.”
Launched in February 2020 just months before Diablo IV was unveiled, Wolcen aimed to blend classic isometric ARPG gameplay with more modern, customizable mechanics. While receiving some positive reviews, the ambitious title was hampered by persistent technical problems the small team struggled to resolve.
“We are fully aware of the challenges that have emerged from the early technical decisions regarding the game’s architecture, challenges that are insurmountable without a complete technology overhaul,” the developers admitted.
Despite regular patches up through mid-2023 adding new story content, gameplay balance changes, and other improvements, Wolcen Studio expressed that “foundational hurdles” prevented them from making further meaningful upgrades under the existing framework.
As a result, the decision was made to cease active development on Wolcen and prepare to move on to new projects informed by lessons learned. The game’s online multiplayer component, a core pillar, will be taken offline entirely come September 3rd, 2024.
“This decision allows us to focus on new projects, carrying forward the lessons learned from Wolcen,” the team stated. “We are committed to excellence and driven to create new experiences.”
While a disappointment for remaining players, the shutdown prPlan was likely inevitable for the niche indie title which failed to capture a sustainable audience or revenue long-term.
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem will remain available to purchase and play in single-player mode only beyond September at a permanently reduced price point. However, the loss of multiplayer functionality essentially retires the living game just over four years after its full launch.
For the small studio, the experience has been a valuable learning process as they aim to apply those hard lessons toward their next endeavor, whatever it may be. But Wolcen’s promising start slowed to an unceremonious conclusion, with the lords of mayhem finally laying down their arms.
