MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Austin, Texas-based Spacetime Studios has acquired the IP for its first universe, Blackstar, back from its original publisher NCsoft.
Spacetime was founded in 2005 by Origin and Sony Online Entertainment veterans, who collectively have worked on titles such as Wing Commander, Privateer and Star Wars: Galaxies. Since its inception it’s been working on the first title in the Blackstar universe, a MMO called Blackstar Chronicles.
NCsoft had originally been on board to publish the title but dropped out during a re-evaluation earlier this year. No new publisher has been announced, but the acquisition of the IP behind the game has, it says, given the team fresh enthusiasm now that the future of the universe is in their hands.
“The IP lends itself to almost any kind of gameplay that one could ask for, and was specifically designed to be a long-term franchise,” said Cinco Barnes, creative director and co-founder of Spacetime Studios.
“It’s a nice sweet spot when you own all the puzzle pieces and we now have extraordinary flexibility in where to take the game universe next.”
Gary Gattis, executive producer and co-founder of Spacetime Studios, added: “After two years of development, the Blackstar universe is quite near and dear to our hearts. Owning the IP as well as the engine and tool set puts a tremendous amount of potential in our hands. With all the developed components under the Spacetime team’s control, the options for the IP are diversified.”
