In a recent development, Sega has sold off Relic Entertainment, the developers behind Company Of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War, as part of a larger restructuring and realignment process within the company. Relic’s new corporate partners are a holding company established by the UK investment firm Emona Capital LLP, allowing them to operate as an independent studio with some flexibility.
The news of Relic’s survival is welcomed, especially since they are focusing on creating more strategy games. This includes a mix of revival projects, new big games, and smaller productions with quicker turnaround times.
In an interview with Game Developer, CEO Justin Dowdeswell shared plans for the future. Relic will continue to support existing games like Company Of Heroes 3 while also working on projects of similar scale and complexity. There are talks of remasters or re-releases for older Relic games, with a focus on capturing the essence of the originals while adding new elements. The decision on which older games to revive will involve discussions with external partners.
Additionally, Relic is exploring new genres and experiences with smaller projects that aim to be developed and released within a two-year timeframe. Dowdeswell mentioned operating with smaller teams and shorter timeframes, resulting in smaller budget costs compared to their larger RTS games.
Despite staff cutbacks after the Sega sale, Dowdeswell is optimistic about Relic’s future, stating that the company is in a much better position now. With a rich history of creating acclaimed games like Homeworld and Dawn Of War, Relic’s recent releases, such as Company Of Heroes 3, have been well-received.
