14 DAY TRIAL // Stormfront Studios, the developer behind Neverwinter Nights and, most recently, The Spiderwick Chronicles, has closed its doors after nearly 20 years in the game. The company also worked in the past on top charting titles, such as Stronghold and the original PC versions of Madden NFL. And these are just a few reasons we are really upset that Stormfront had to close its doors.
A company representative, described as "sullen" by next-gen.biz, declared via telephone for the website: "Frankly, we didn't get pitched, and the project [we were working on] made no revenue. The economy is such that the projects that we weren't winning, ended."
Stormfront Studios has been led by Don Daglow and it had no less than 33 employees. Nobody has disclosed further plans, since the news is still fresh for everybody. The irony is, however, that the first rumors regarding the company's process of closure started to be heard yesterday (on the 1st of April) and everybody thought and hoped it was a joke. Unfortunately, it is not: independent reports have indicated that the lack of new project signings has led to the shutdown.
As we have told you already, most recently, Stormfront developed movie tie-in The Spiderwick Chronicles. The studio was also responsible for Stronghold, Eragon, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone. And, even though most of these games weren't exactly successful (judging from a financial point of view), I must admit that I liked each and every one of them. Hell, I still have Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone installed and I keep playing a bit every now and then even though I'm not a fan of the genre!
Anyway, the conclusion is clear: we really hope that Stormfront Studios' former employees will manage to get back in the business as soon as possible and start working on titles as good as those they've already created - but titles that will also come with financial success.