Relic Entertainment Details Its New Strategy

The Relic Entertainment CEO has detailed the studio’s new strategy after splitting from Sega, stating that it will focus on smaller titles and classic revivals. The CEO also explained how the new strategy will impact the Relic Entertainment workforce following last year’s layoffs.

Relic Entertainment has a renowned legacy of games behind it, with titles such as the Homeworld, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, and Company of Heroes series. Even though the studio has breathed life into these gems, it has also struggled with ownership changes. Relic Entertainment was purchased by THQ in 2004 before the latter went bankrupt, forcing Relic to be acquired by Sega. Then, in 2024, Sega sold it to UK-based investment firm Emona Capital LLP, which led Relic to decide to become an independent studio. Now, the studio’s CEO has offered more details on what fans can expect from Relic moving forward.

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Following the consequences of Relic’s separation from Sega, and with the goal of becoming an independent studio, CEO Justin Dowdeswell explained in a press release what Relic’s future plans are. He assured that the team will continue to support and develop its signature titles like Company of Heroes 3 with upcoming patches and content. However, he also detailed the studio’s commitment to focusing on developing and publishing “smaller-scope, in-house games.” This means that Relic will start working with smaller teams while shortening its development time, aiming to get games with a lower budget (compared to what Relic is used to) ready in about 1-2 years.

Relic Entertainment Promises to Develop Brand-New Franchises

Dowdeswell went on to say that this will not only mean developing brand-new franchises but also re-releases like Age of Empires 4, remasters, and more. The CEO explained that Relic’s new games will aim to capture the feeling of its iconic titles but with a twist to help them appeal to new generations as well. Dowdeswell emphasized how important this step is for the studio and reassured its fan base that the team is passionate about creating “unforgettable gaming experiences,” promising upcoming innovative and high-quality games that will captivate all kinds of players. “The future of Relic Entertainment is bright, and we are excited to embark on this new journey,” the CEO said.

Since its separation from Sega, Relic Entertainment has been hit with layoffs that affected workers. When asked about how the new strategy the studio wants to apply will impact the workforce, the CEO told Game Developer that this new focus won’t lead to redundancies, as it allows the team to serve the business’s needs better, assuring that Relic is on much better footing now.

Relic Entertainment

Date Founded

May 1, 1997

Headquarters

Vancouver, Canada

Known For

Company of Heroes