The Norwegian MMO studio Funcom has unveiled its quarterly results. According to this, LEGO Minifigures Online has been a flop.
The LEGO Minifigures Online, intended for children, “has continued to fall short of expectations.” The switch to a Buy2Play model didn’t help either. Investment has been reduced to a minimum to meet obligations, but internally, the project has already been written off. This is evident from Funcom’s quarterly report.
The quarterly report paints a bleak picture of the present. The “live MMOs” The Secret World, Anarchy Online, and Age of Conan are still profitable, but are generating less revenue as they age.
The Park is coming to consoles Xbox One and Playstation 4
A ray of hope is perhaps “The Park”, which is the first game following the new Funcom strategy. It is said to have met its own internal expectations both financially and otherwise. The Park is set to release for Xbox One and Playstation 4 in the first quarter of 2016 in addition to the PC.
“The Park” is a “small game”; perhaps one or two hours of pure playtime. It is aimed at YouTubers who enjoy showcasing such horror games – some have built a career scaring audiences.
The German YouTuber Gronkh made 6 “The Park” episodes. The first received over 500,000 clicks, while the other 5 are between 200,000 and 300,000 views.
Funcom plans 3 new games for 2016
Back to Funcom: For 2016, they aim to fully transition into the “new mode”: releasing many more games based on existing franchises. A “major title” is planned for 2016. Later in the year, two “small, experimental games” are set to be released – similar to “The Park.”
Whether the major title from Funcom will at least be an MMO is uncertain. It seems rather doubtful at the moment.
