**Warhammer MMO Project at Jackalyptic Games Canceled Following Studio Shutdown**
Yet another MMO has sadly bitten the dust. The highly anticipated Warhammer project in development at Jackalyptic Games has been canceled following the studio’s shutdown.
The news comes directly from Jack Emmert, a veteran MMO developer known for his work on *City of Heroes*, *Champions Online*, and *Star Trek Online*. Emmert also managed *DC Universe Online* during his tenure at Daybreak Game Company. When the DC Universe Online team was spun off into Dimensional Ink Games in early 2020, Emmert began working on an unannounced project that later evolved into a Marvel-based MMORPG.
Unfortunately, that Marvel MMO project was canceled by Daybreak’s parent company, Enad Global 7. Following this setback, Emmert founded Jackalope Games (later rebranded as Jackalyptic Games) with financial backing from NetEase.
In May 2023, it was revealed that the Austin-based development team was working on an MMO based on a Warhammer intellectual property. Shortly after, Emmert shared that the game would be accessible and focused on faithfully representing the Warhammer IP — a passion project for the lifelong Warhammer fan.
However, amid NetEase’s recent wave of studio closures, Jackalyptic Games has unfortunately become the latest casualty. Yesterday, Emmert announced the closure via the company’s LinkedIn page:
> “I’m here to share a note that after nearly three and a half years working with NetEase Games as a first-party studio, our partnership will be coming to an end. We appreciate all the support NetEase Games has provided with their resources and engagement throughout this development process.
> As we navigate this transition, our talented team members will be exploring new opportunities. If you’re looking for passionate, creative professionals who bring excellence and collaboration to everything they do, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
> We want to thank our community and all the individuals who have contributed to the project, and have made it something special.”
This news marks another disappointing chapter for MMO fans following the closure of Amazon’s *New World*, the cancellation of the in-development *The Lord of the Rings* MMO, and the disappearance of Fantastic Pixel Castle’s *Ghost MMO*.
Regarding Warhammer in the MMO space, the fantasy franchise’s only official MMORPG remains 2008’s *Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning*, which shut down in 2013. Dedicated fans have kept the experience alive through a private server called *Return to Reckoning*.
Meanwhile, the Warhammer 40,000 universe saw an MMO-style third-person shooter with 2016’s *Eternal Crusade* by Behavior Interactive. However, its servers were shut down in September 2021 due to declining player numbers.
As Warhammer’s gaming presence continues to flourish, the cancellation of Jackalyptic’s project is a notable loss for the community hoping for a new MMORPG set in this rich universe. Hopefully, future endeavors will bring the Warhammer experience back to MMO fans worldwide.
https://wccftech.com/the-warhammer-mmo-is-also-canceled-netease-shuts-down-jackalyptic-games/
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