Relic Entertainment’s Future Will Focus On Smaller Games, And “Re-Imagining” Its Classic Titles

2024 was an important year for Relic Entertainment, because it marked the studio going independent from its former parent company, SEGA. With the excitement of that new chapter though, came with harsher realities of the modern games industry, and Relic announced layoffs a week after being independent.

Needless to say, the studio is having to figure out how it’ll move forward as an independent. On Monday, Relic announced how it plans to do exactly that.

The studio’s future will focus around three pillars, it said in a statement sent to PSU. Those three pillars are:

• Deepening commitment to existing titles
• Independent development, creative experiences
• Re-imagining classics.

In regards to the first pillar, what Relic means by that is that the studio will “continue to provide robust support for its acclaimed titles, including Company of Heroes 3.” For the second pillar, that’s where things get a little more interesting.

“Recognizing the power of creativity and innovation, Relic will actively pursue the development and publishing of smaller-scope, in-house games, while also continuing to develop the larger, complex strategy titles the studio is renowned for,” the company said in its statement.

The statement continues, “This will allow the studio to explore new genres and gameplay experiences and continue fostering a culture of experimentation and artistic expression.” It’ll be interesting to see how Relic is able to find its flow in getting out smaller games in-between bigger releases, though on paper at least, it sounds like a model that should work swimmingly.

Finally the third pillar means that Relic will look to popular titles from its pasts. This doesn’t exclusively mean remasters, though as Relic puts it, “this may include re-releases, remasters, or brand-new franchise experiences that capture the spirit of the originals while appealing to a new generation of players.”

So we might be getting remasters of older Relic games, we might be getting full remakes, or reboots of older Relic games. We’ll just have to see what the company has in store.

“Relic Entertainment has always been a studio defined by its resilience and passion for creating unforgettable gaming experiences,” said chief executive officer Justin Dowdeswell.

“This new chapter marks a significant milestone for us. By embracing independence and focusing on our core strengths, we are confident in our ability to deliver innovative, high-quality games that will resonate with players around the world. The future of Relic Entertainment is bright, and we are excited to embark on this new journey.”

Hopefully for the developers of Relic, and those who love their games, Dowdeswell and the rest of the studio’s leadership is right about the company’s future.

Source – [Relic Entertainment Press Release]