German publisher Gameforge, a pioneer of the free-to-play (F2P) business model, is cutting its losses in mobile development and returning to its roots, according to MediaBiz. Unfortunately, around 90 staff will lose their jobs as a result of the decision.
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Speaking to German news site MediaBiz, Gameforge CEO Alexander Rösner says mobile development had not been as successful as the company had hoped. He says the F2P market on PC, where Gameforge had most of its hits, continued to present some “interesting opportunities”, whereas the mobile market was “much harder.”
Gameforge is believed to employ around 450 staff, of which it is thought that as many as 90 will have to be let go as the company stops mobile development. PocketGamer says that all internal development has been put on hold as the company completes its restructuring.
Gameforge was founded in December 2003, with F2P browser-based space sim OGame one of their first titles. They grew strongly over the next seven years, building their portfolio with client-based MMOGs such as TERA, Runes of Magic and Wizard101. On Steam, you might like to check out S.K.I.L.L. – Special Force 2, AION or Orcs Must Die! Unchained(now past the 200th day of its open beta) as examples of their work. Now that Gameforge are out of the mobile business, this is the sort of thing we can presumably expect more of.