Fate of Ascendant Studios in Doubt After New Studio Launch

A significant transition occurred in the gaming industry as approximately 20 former developers from Ascendant Studios, including the ex-CEO Bret Robbins, have launched Absurd Marin under Dan Houser's Absurd Ventures. This new studio aims to develop a separate story-driven action-adventure game distinct from their other projects in the A Better Paradise universe. The move follows Ascendant Studios' challenges, where poor sales of Immortals of Aveum resulted in drastic layoffs, prompting uncertainty about the studio's future. As of now, it remains unclear whether Ascendant Studios still exists, as many employees, including Robbins, have left.

Following the disappointing sales of Immortals of Aveum, Ascendant Studios faced significant layoffs, impacting nearly half of their workforce. Reports indicate that most of the remaining staff were furloughed earlier this year, leading to doubts about the studio's viability and existence.

Immortals of Aveum is a first-person magic shooter developed by Ascendant Studios that faced challenges both in sales and critical reception. The game’s unique premise and ambitious gameplay aimed to capture the attention of players, but ultimately fell short, highlighting the high stakes within the gaming industry. The creation of Absurd Marin reflects both a shift in personnel and a new direction for those involved, allowing them to explore storytelling in action-adventure gaming further.