On Tuesday, the former NetEase Studio led by former Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer Mac Walters, Worlds Untold, has issued a statement that the studio will pause operations until a new partner is found.
Worlds Untold is a development studio established in 2023 led by former Mass Effect and Jade Empire writer Mac Walters, and they were set to start development on an action-adventure title with a “breathtaking world filled with mystery and exploration.” This Tuesday however, Walters took to LinkedIn to share a post on the official Worlds Untold page to announce the studio would have to ‘pause operations’ as it searches for a new partner.
Walters said “It’s hard to find the right words for this, but I wanted to share that we’ve made the very difficult decision to pause operations at Worlds Untold while we search for a new partner to help bring our vision to life. This was not a decision we made lightly—it’s been a deeply personal journey, and we’re all so proud of everything this team has built together” in the LinkedIn statement. While the statement doesn’t mention outright studio closure anywhere, Walters has also said that all current team members currently with the studio “will be exploring new opportunities” and he will vouch for them if necessary.
Worlds Untold parent company NetEase has issued a response to the news of the fledging studio pausing operations, and their statement from a spokesperson reads “After careful consideration, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to discontinue financing for Worlds Untold,” continuing with “This choice was not made lightly, as we have been consistently inspired by the team, their unwavering dedication and the bold vision behind their project” citing market conditions as ample reasoning for the decision to pull funding according to the spokesperson’s statement to Eurogamer.
As studio lead Walters has stopped short of committing to a complete studio closure, NetEase has said “We thank Worlds Untold for their remarkable contributions and wish them every success in the future.”
