Echtra was working on a new RPG for Zynga, but it never saw the light of day.
Four years after acquiring the studio, Zynga has confirmed with IGN that Torchlight 3 developer Echtra Games is being closed.
«Zynga has made the difficult decision to cease operations at its Echtra studio, ending development on future titles and reducing roles», the company told the site. «This decision is part of a strategic realignment of the company’s resources and priorities. We will work closely with impacted employees so they are treated with the utmost respect and consideration as we navigate this difficult process.»
Echtra was founded in 2016 by Max Schaefer, one of the co-founders of original Torchlight developer Runic Games and also a co-founder of Diablo studio Blizzard North. The studio’s initial focus was on Torchlight Frontiers, envisioned as an MMO, but in 2020, after «feedback [from testers], discussing with our internal teams, and receiving guidance from our publisher», Echtra announced a shift to a more conventional standalone game design, and a new title, Torchlight 3.
