The studio behind the Early Access RPG, Hero’s Song, is shutting its doors, and development on the game has been cancelled. John Smedley, founder and CEO of Pixelmage Games made the announcement today via a post on the studio’s website.
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“It’s with a heavy heart that I have to report that Pixelmage Games is going to be shutting down and we have ceased development on Hero’s Song,” said Smedley in the post, “For the last year, our team has worked tirelessly to make the game we’ve dreamed about making, and with your support, and the support of our investors, we were able to get the game into Early Access.
“Unfortunately sales fell short of what we needed to continue development. We knew going in that most startups don’t make it, and as an indie game studio we hoped we would be the exception to that rule, but as it turned out we weren’t.”
Hero’s Song had a difficult route to development, which you began with a failed Kickstarter that sought to raise $800,000 for the RPG. The Kickstarter was pulled after just one week. Later, Smedley tried to crowdfund the game – with a much lower goal – through indiegogo, but still only managed about half the $200,000 target. Eventually, Hero’s Song was launched on Early Access, where it appears it will remain indefinitely.
Smedley was keen to ensure customers that they would receive a full refund for their support, whether they backed the game through the Early Access program or Indiegogo. “We sincerely value our customers. You’re our most important focus and have been from day one. We’re going to offer 100% refunds to all of the people who bought Hero’s Song,” stated Smedley.
Steam customers are being told to go through the standard refund process, while Smedley instructs Indiegogo backers to email Pixelmage Games with their purchase details and customer information.
Pixelmage Games was founded in October, 2015 by John Smedley, who had previously been president of EverQuest studio Daybreak Game Company.