Fans have waited patiently for THQ to announce a launch date for Dark Millennium Online, and though that patience has finally been rewarded, it won’t make the next eighteen months pass any more quickly. Complicating matters is that Darksiders 2, a potential Wii U launch title, is also being developed by Vigil, and any delays on that title could push production of Dark Millennium Online back.
Prospects for a sequel to Warhammer: Space Marine are not as encouraging. Speaking to Joystiq, THQ’s Danny Bilson balked at the idea of committing to a sequel for Space Marine, saying that the title would undoubtedly compete directly with Dark Millennium Online.
Bilson didn’t slam the door though, knowing future, yet unnamed projects are in the works.
THQ undoubtedly has noticed the negative churn of subscribers from World of Warcraft, and by launching Warhammer 40k Dark Millennium Online in March 2013, one has to wonder if THQ is setting themselves up to scoop fans who have fallen out of favor with Blizzard’s behemoth. While still incredibly popular, WoW is losing subscribers each month, and THQ is probably aiming their product squarely at disenfranchised WoW players. Eighteen months is a long time in the development world, so it remains to be seen how this will play out.
With many other publishers taking their franchise into the MMO world, it will be very interesting to see how Dark Millennium Online fares. With WoW already an established giant, Knights of the Old Republic due out very soon, and rumors of a Mass Effect MMO, it could soon be a very competitive landscape. Hopefully, that will do nothing but make better games for players.
Warhammer 40k fans, what is your take on the time frame for Dark Millennium Online’s release? Are you dismayed that no Space Marine sequel is planned at this point?
Warhammer 40k Dark Millennium Online is slated for a March 2013 release.
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Source: VG24/7, Joystiq
