Flagship Studios Layoffs, Hellgate: London Changes Hands?

In addition to news of major layoffs at Flagship Studios, Hellgate Guru brings word that Korean news website TheGames.co.k is reporting that HanbitSoft “is expected to take full control” of the Hellgate: London IP. First, the layoffs:

This morning, Gamasutra obtained information from a source close to the company indicating that staff at both the Flagship development team as well as online services subsidiary Ping0 were let go. Both companies operate out of the same building.

Flagship declined to go into further detail about the layoffs, beyond stating that there was truth to the reports.

Followed by even worse news for Hellgate fans:

In breaking news, Korean news website TheGames.co.kr reports that HanbitSoft is taking full control over the Hellgate: London intellectual property from Flagship Studios. At present, HanbitSoft co-owns the IP, which was developed by Flagship Studios and published by Electronic Arts in Europe and the United States.

HanbitSoft states that the reason it is pursuing this course of action is because (It is hard for us to accept Flagship Studios’ requests for continued support in capital and funding any longer and because Flagship was being difficult), and because it co-owns a direct stake in the IP, it therefore (has a say in reviewing and determining any course of action to be taken with Hellgate: London.)

HanbitSoft is expected to take full control over the IP. HanbitSoft goes on to state that in doing so, it will be able to (properly manage and develop Hellgate: London into a good game with proper content), with its own in-house team of developers.

The report further states that the online service of Hellgate: London, which started in January 15, 2008 acquired 100,000 early users within the first two weeks of operation during which time HanbitSoft earned 3 billion won (approximately 3 million USD) for the sales of Hellgate: London in Korea. However, the number of players in the game significantly declined due to the lack of general out-of-the-box content and the sparsity of ongoing content updates. Since its Open Beta launch, Hellgate: London has gone from being the 9th most played game in Korea to 52nd post-commercial launch.

Don’t get worked up just yet – following their news story, Flagship Studios issued this response:

This story is an outright lie. We have no idea where they are getting their information from and have asked legal counsel to pursue the issue. We are mystified by Hanbitsoft’s conclusions and any attempt to take over the IP will be met with a strong and swift response, to (illegally take over the IP). All right title and interest in Hellgate; London resides in Flagship Financing, LLC a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flagship Studios. We are outraged that Hanbitsoft would attempt to completely tarnish the reputation of its most vital developer. Hanbitsoft’s new management clearly does not understand the terms of its relationship with Flagship.

This one might get ugly.