Trion Worlds Reportedly Sold To Gamigo, ArcheAge, Rift, Trove And More All To Shut Down?

Multiple different sources are reporting that the heavily pay-to-win Publisher Trion Worlds, the team behind hits like ArcheAge, Rift, and Trove to name a few has laid off a significant portion of their staff members as part as an acquisition by another company.

Community Manager Linda “Brasse” Carlson posted earlier today on the official Rift Forums stating that “There is a lot of concern this morning about our acquisition, but I want to make sure you know that the games will go on!”

Good morning, all.
There is a lot of concern this morning about our acquisition, but I want to make sure you know that the games will go on!

I would like to share the official statement from Trion:

“Greetings — We can confirm that there has been a transaction involving Trion Worlds and its games.

While many of the names and faces you’ve come to know in our studios will remain on through this transition, others will not be making the journey. To those who are leaving us, we are forever grateful for your incredible work and contributions over the years.

We’d like to assure our communities that the games will continue on in capable hands moving forward, as everyone involved is aiming to make this transition as smooth as possible for you. We will have more information to reveal as soon as we possibly can.

From the bottom of all of our hearts, we thank you for your time and dedication to our games and hope that you’ve enjoyed the experience as much as we have. From spending time with you in game, to seeing you at conventions, to talking with you on livestreams and forums, it’s been our pleasure to be a part of this exceptional community with you since our first launch more than seven years ago.
Please know that you have our deepest gratitude. As for our games, we hope you continue to enjoy playing them far into the future!

The Trion Worlds Team”

I’ll be here until end of day and will either answer or forward your questions to the team.
It has been a rare honor to share Telara with you all! I will still wander its pathways as an ordinary citizen. =)
Brasse

Brasse herself does not appear to have been negatively affected by the layoffs herself, but stated that all of Trion’s games will “continue on” while also pointing out that some staff members “will not be making the journey.”

Popular gaming news website Gamasutra confirmed that the layoffs had gone on to affect over 200 different staff members, with Trion Worlds employing over 200 people before their acquisition, and having that number drastically reduced to a mere 25 employees after. “The remaining developers at both the company’s Redwood City, California and Austin, Texas offices have been affected by the layoffs.”

What does this effectively mean for Trion and their games? Unfortunately for players still interested in the MMOs they have to offer, I can’t help but feel like I can hear the tolling of the bells. Rift, ArcheAge, Trove, Defiance: 2050 and Atlas Reactor are all fairly desolate games, but at least regarding the first three mentioned, it seems as though, at least for the foreseeable future, they will continue on. For how long remains to be seen, but this could be the beginning of the end for all of Trion’s games.