Zynga to Close Echtra Games Studio Responsible for Torchlight 3
Zynga will officially close Echtra Games, the San Francisco studio responsible for Torchlight 3, by the end of June. The closure marks the end of a team with historical ties to the production of action RPGs, including games like Diablo and Hellgate: London.
Strategic Realignment and Impact
Echtra was acquired by Zynga in 2021 and has been collaborating with NaturalMotion on a new RPG project, which was never announced. According to the studio’s LinkedIn page, over 60 people were employed, giving an idea of the decision’s impact.
In a press release, Zynga explained that the closure is part of a “strategic realignment” of the company’s priorities and resources. The American tech company ensured that they will support the affected workers during the transition process.
Founded in 2016 by Max Schaefer, Echtra emerged with a strong foundation in RPGs. Schaefer is also a co-founder of Runic Games, the creator of Torchlight and Torchlight 2, and was involved in the creation of Blizzard North, where the first Diablo was born in 1997, followed by Diablo 2 in 2000. His career also includes Flagship Studios and the game Hellgate: London, released in 2007.
With the end of Echtra Games, another chapter of a lineage that has deeply influenced action RPGs in recent decades comes to a close.
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