In a speech to the community, Visionary Realms CEO Chris Rowan announced that the studio behind Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has made layoffs as part of a restructuring.
The publication openly admitted that the planned updates to the combat system and progression mechanics did not meet expectations, so Visionary Realms decided to “correct course” and change the approach to the organization’s development process.
We didn’t deliver on our promises. Improving the combat system and progression – especially the mastery mechanics – is an ambitious undertaking. It introduces complexities that our technology and development tools cannot adequately handle. This discrepancy should have been discovered before work began, but this did not happen. This is an oversight by management. I understand your frustration and share your feelings. You have invested your time, money, and confidence in Pantheon, and I realize that failure to achieve our goals erodes your trust in us. It is not possible to regain this trust through short-term measures; it requires sustained and tangible progress.
The message goes on to describe the steps the team has taken to address the flaws that led to the current situation; specifically, Robert Crane’s return to the project as leader. As Visionary Realms reorganizes to better meet its new goals, the Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen development team has had to face layoffs. The exact number of employees who have been laid off is not yet known.
We’ve also reorganized other parts of the team, which unfortunately means separating from the colleagues who helped shape the Pantheon. This will allow Rob to build a team that suits his project management approach. However, these are difficult decisions involving people we respect and value, so we do not take them lightly. We thank them for their contribution to the project and wish them all the best. Ultimately, responsibility for the direction of the company and the changes we make lies with management.
Rowan noted that Crane’s responsibilities will include strengthening the VR team’s operational processes, defining and monitoring clear priorities, and assisting the team in planning and executing tasks more reliably. Because of these changes, Pantheon’s roadmap needs to be revised. According to Rowan, the focus will be on “combat, progression, and the item system that ties these aspects together.” The team will continue to work at the new locations in Badiyadkara and Faltal and will also be more open to the internal development process.
Our goal is to create a development environment where players can continue to progress and have amazing experiences, while also allowing the community to regain confidence and trust in the game. We understand that a statement alone cannot achieve this goal. What matters now is how we turn these plans into reality.
