Funcom has announced that it will no longer develop games for the Microsoft Xbox, or any other console platforms, and will focus its resources primarily on developing games for the PC. In July of last year, the company announced that it had abandoned development for the PS2 in order to concentrate on the Xbox, but following the release of Anarchy Online, the company sees potential in the online gaming market and feels that the PC is still the most viable platform for network games. The company feels that the current and upcoming console platforms are not compatible with its long-term strategy concerning online games.
"Moving out of console development was a strategic decision that makes Funcom more focused as a company," Funcom president Andre Backen said. "Funcom has worked extremely hard to establish itself in the massively multiplayer online market, and this is where we have our strength."
Funcom's Dublin studio, which was developing Jet Sprint, a powerboat racing game for the Xbox, will be closed during the next two months as the company restructures its development resources. The company will be hiring staff to complement its offices in Switzerland, Norway, and the United States.