My hopes for the planned Warhammer MMO have just been dashed as its developer confirms NetEase has pulled the plug

Nowadays, our list of the best Warhammer games feels rather full, whether you're more a fan of the classic style or the 40k era. From stalwarts like Vermintide 2 and Dawn of War to behemoths such as Space Marine 2 and Total War Warhammer 3, there's something to cater to everyone. But what about a proper Warhammer MMO? Does anyone else remember the days of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, which was shut down back in 2013? More than a decade on, and there was a promising new contender in town - but it seems that my hopes have just been dashed across the rocks once more.

The Warhammer MMO in question was being developed by Jackalyptic Games, led by CEO Jack Emmert, a veteran name who boasts credits on some of the best MMOs, including DC Universe Online, Neverwinter, City of Heroes, and Star Trek Online. The team was keeping quiet on exactly what aspect of the Warhammer universe we'd be dealing with, saying that it wasn't ready to announce whether we were dealing with classic Warhammer fantasy, Age of Sigmar, 40k, or another area. Nevertheless, the mere promise of something was enough to get me sharpening my ax.

Unfortunately, Emmert has now confirmed via both LinkedIn and a statement on the company's official website that "after nearly three and a half years working with NetEase Games as a first-party studio, our partnership will be coming to an end. We appreciate all the support NetEase Games has provided with their resources and engagement throughout this development process.

"As we navigate this transition, our talented team members will be exploring new opportunities," Emmert's post continues, calling on any potential employers to consider the affected developers. "We want to thank our community and all the individuals who have contributed to the project, and have made it something special. We are inspired by all of you and are grateful for the support we have received. We look forward to updating you and sharing positive progress on the next phases of our journey."

There's no word on what this means for the project, but it seems unlikely that we'll hear any positive followup. Indeed, it's yet more bad news from the space after work on fellow MMORPG Ghost, from ex WoW lead systems designer Greg Street, was also cut short when NetEase ended its publishing deal with Fantastic Pixel Castle. Street has since confirmed that the studio is set to shut its doors on November 17.