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Microsoft has pulled development of Darkside Game Studios’ version of Phantom Dust, switching development of the project to an as yet unnamed studio, Kotaku reports.
“Microsoft partnered with Darkside Game Studios in the development of Phantom Dust, but our working relationship has now ended,” a Microsoft spokesperson said. “We have great respect for their studio and their work in the industry. While we do not have anything new to share on Phantom Dust at this time, we can confirm that development of the title continues. We look forward to sharing more details on the game as we get closer to release.”
So important was the project to Darkside that it has allegedly been forced to close, leaving around 50 people without a job, sources at the studio have told Kotaku.
The studio had previously delivered contract work on titles like Borderlands and Sunset Overdrive, but Phantom Dust was to be its first solo title.
Pulling the title from Darkside appears to have come as a great shock to the team.
“The executives who saw it were impressed and as late as this morning gave our team every indication that the project was on solid ground,” said an anonymous former Darkside employee. “Yet we got the phone call today that someone up on high who in all likelihood wasn’t even aware of the game in detail shut it down.”
The developer now in control of the project remains a mystery.
Source: Kotaku
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