News

Cities XL developer Monte Cristo Games closes doors "this week"
Posted: 28.05.2010 12:34 by Simon Priest Comments: 3
France-based Monte Cristo Games will be closing down this week they announce, following the failure of their MMO-based Cities XL.

A subscription-based urban city builder, Cities XL was thought to be a successor to SimCity, but numbers weren't on the studios side.

"This is with deep regrets that we officially announce today the closure of our studio. As such Monte Cristo will close its door this week. We leave behind us a couple regrets but also, more important, a lot of good memories..." posted Monte Cristo on fan site Simtropolis, reports Big Download. Cities XL also supported a singleplayer mode.

"A publisher has shown up who will pick up Cities XL’s license, and who will continue to sell the game. This company will surely make itself known soon. We are confident that we leave Cities XL in good hands."

The online login system to play the game will remain active pledges the developer, but "obviously the online support is now longer available and we apologize for this.

"One last time all the Monte Cristo team members would like to wholeheartedly thank the Cities XL players and community members who so dedicatedly took part in the life and evolution of this wonderful project," they added.

In January of this year the MMO portion of Cities XL was closed down due to a lack of numbers, meaning only the singleplayer game would function. It was an ambitious goal to get player made cities connected online and sharing their prosperity.
Related games: Cities XL (PC)

Comments

By SwiftFire87 (SI Veteran Member) on May 28, 2010
SwiftFire87
Cities XL MMO was far from great idea for Monte Cristo. I am glad Cities XL license and stuff will be given to new Publisher or a publisher. Series can live on. :)
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on May 30, 2010
herodotus
A tragic mistake by one of the long time strategy publishers. Blind man could have seen this as a mistake, as I believe EA' "NFS World" will be, but to think this giant among niche Strategy Games will fade away is a tragedy. Still, even those titles were sometimes a bit dodgy ("1944: The Battle of the Bulge").
Tanks for the memories, MC.
By noobst3R (SI Core) on May 30, 2010
noobst3R
No surprise for me actually. I feel sorry though, that's it not a big American company closing, but some European fellas trying to make some living from games.