After a sluggish financial performance due to business changes, Rune Factory developer Neverland has announced it will be closing its doors.
The Japanese company made the announcement via its official website, explaining that its financial status had deteriorated considerably in recent times. After failing to raise the necessary amount of funds needed to continue operations, the only remaining option was to shut down immediately and begin proceedings for bankruptcy.
Neverland was founded in 1993 and is best known for the long-running Lufia series, and developing Marvelous ALQ’s Rune Factory series (a spin-off of Harvest Moon). Whilst Rune Factory 4 for the 3DS was the fastest-selling title in the Rune Factory franchise, it appears to have been unsuccessful in saving Neverland from its financial troubles.
The only question left is what will come of Rune Factory 5? According to Rune Factory producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto, the fourth game’s reception was good enough to green light a sequel. Will it still happen? Naturally our thoughts are also with those affected by Neverland's closure.
[source siliconera.com]
Comments 45
Such a pity...
Too Bad For Neverland...
I hope that, at least, Rune Factory 4 will come to EU.
@gurtifus Zen United is meant to be responsible for Europe: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/09/rune_factory_4_european_localisation_confirmed
So, so sad.
Rune Factory is on my short list of games I always buy on day 1 (Mario Kart, Zelda, and 3D Mario games complete the list).
This series is so, so good. It's a real shame more people haven't played it .
Such a shame when a niche japanese developer closes, I still miss Cing
I'm not a fan of Runefactory but what a huge bummer for those who are fans and those who worked at Neverland. Hopefully Natsume can just pick all that talent up and just do the Runefactory series right out of their operation
I'm going to miss them ;_;
Unless, Atlus could buy them 0.0. Nvm, last time they competed for Rune Factory 4 i went straight then Etrian Oddysey Untold
Noooooo!!! I need my dose of Rune factory 5 and Rune Factory U (possibly)
This is crushing news. My daughter is going to be very upset over this. She absolutely loves Rune Factory 4.
It's so sad when Japanese game developers close down! Well, any developer closing down really. Sigh.
I knew I had a bad feeling when I woke up today. At least they went out with a bang...
This is really disappointing news. Rune Factory is one of my favorite franchises. The newest installment is by-far my favorite, and it's heartbreaking to see such talented people out of work now.
Great. I start enjoying a series and now its developer closes its doors. I need to stop liking new games
It's always a sad time when ANY developer closes it's doors, and I've always wanted to try a Rune Factory game. I'm going to pick up 4 today, although I'm not sure that would help the matters. I hope all their developers get new jobs at good companies and prosper.
Say what...!?
D:
Been into Rune Factory since the original and gotten almost everyone of them for the DS and Wii. I was actually going to go get Rune Factory 4 today. Also I was really hoping for one on the Wii U eventually. Maybe Nintendo or some other studio could buy the IP and produce something equally as good.
Man. This sucks. I'll be getting Rune Factory 4 here shortly and even though I haven't played it yet.. I know it will be great, because it's Rune Factory. One of the best handheld series ever to grace the DS/3DS. It's a real shame to see these guys go under. I hope that Nintendo helps them out or they get a kickstarter rolling. I was really looking forward to seeing one come out on the Wii U, however unlikely that may have been. Here's hoping that this IP does not die and it lands in some caring hands, IE Atlus or Nintendo.
Natsume would be the most likely candidate
@DarkwingLz Actually, that's the best option. Also the most likely like you said, I've always considered Rune Factory to be a Natsume game anyway..
Honestly, Rune Factory was about the only good thing this company did in my opinion, and even those were hit or miss (thought 4 was a huge hit, I love it, one of the best games for 3DS). Having to shop for another studio to do Rune Factory 5 is hardly going to be a speed bump. There's plenty of talent that can take over without even losing stride.
=( Sad days for developers
Get the hell out, no way! I'm loving RF4, I hope someone big snags their IPs up so that they'll still have jobs and RF5 will still be in play
Any chance of another worthy Lufia is gone.
What a shame. Hopefully everyone at Neverland can find a well paying, enjoyable job.
I might be wrong on this, but I'm convinced Natsume has partial ownership (if not full ownership) on the RF IP itself. After all, it was marketed as a "fantasy Harvest Moon" for 2/3 of the series...
Nooooo D: I hope the IP doesn't go to the void
Better pick up RF4 before it becomes hard to find.
This was a depressing bit of news.
Oh man, that's such a shame Rune Factory 4 is a masterpiece, and it's a rare thing to find a developer who pours so much heart into their games. I hope we get to see more from them in future somehow!
What I shame Let's hope RF4 is still coming to the EU regardless, as I was planning to buy it (as my first Rune Factory).
@Ralizah
O_O, I know. I put RF4 on the back burner because I didn't have the $$. I better start turning in cans or I may never get it!
I was also a huge fan of Lufia...such a shame to see one of my favorite small developers go under...but I'm probably going to have to get used to it this gen...
Very sad to read. I never played One of their Games yet, but I was also going to get RF 4 as soon it gets released in Europe ..once read it should be released in Feburary 2014, does anyone know if it's still coming?
So sorry
OH COME ON NINTENDO! BUY THIS STUDIO! IT'S A PERFECT CHANCE!
comeoncomeoncomeoncomeon
@Liam_Doolan Zen United!? Good luck getting RF4 in 20 years.
Ashes to ashes.
Well, this is a huge bummer, and right after Thanksgiving too.
Hopefully Marvelous AQL will buy them out or something since they're the one who owns the rights to the series, not Natsume. If Marvelous doesn't have anyone else to handle the series they very well may have to, and with the series on a roll that would be a good move regardless.
A sad day in gamingland... At least RF4 will come out in Europe (finally) so I'll be able to play and enjoy it!
If the Rune Factory series is dead, I'm going to have to buy a Wii U so I can replay Frontier and Tides. The disc drive laser in my Wii is dead and it isn't worth repairing.
Well, I suddenly feel like buying Rune Factory 4.
Rune Factory is a series I've always been interested in, but never got around to buying any of them.
Rune Factory 4... So much detail, so much content, so much personality... The perfect blend between Harvest Moon and Final Fantasy gameplay. Even when the graphics failed to deliver, the game itself is a true masterpiece. I really mourn this news: Rune Factory as we know it is now in question, even when another sequel is (JUST) possible.
I really hope someone will pick up their franchises. Natsume sounds like a good candidate since they also make Harvest Moon.
...Damn.
Well that is a shame still haven't gotten Rune Factory 4 yet I'll be needing to do that soon I'd suppose...I hope 5 something still makes it out
This just sucks. I loved RF4.
@Windy: You didn't like RF4??? Why not? I'm kind of surprised.
@KnightRider666 ive never played it. I have RF2 and RF 3. I also have both Wii versions and just have a hard time getting into them
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