2012’s Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was an ambitious action RPG, a huge game that blended ideas from multiple games belonging to multiple genres, with a full-fledged class system to sate the hunger of RPG veterans, a winding, engaging narrative, and so much more.
It had huge talents attached to it as well, including renowned writer R.A. Salvator doing the, well, writing; Ken Rolston, former lead designer on the likes of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Oblivion taking up that same role; acclaimed composer Grant Kirkhop making the game’s music; and superstar artist Todd McFarlane handling the art. It had a lot going for it, and when it launched, it, sadly enough, didn’t do as well as perhaps it should have.
The game had its fair share of issues, sure, but underneath those issues was a real gem, a fact that a devoted base of ravenous fans proudly trumpets to this day. Sadly, we never even got a sequel, since co-developer and publisher 38 Games filed for bankruptcy not long after its launch, and that set of ravenous fans was left sorely disappointed.
If you belong to that set of fans, I’ve got good news for you- THQ Nordic have announced on their official Twitter page that they have acquired the Kingdoms of Amalur IP, “among other assets” from 38 Studios. Which is just aces in my book. Kingdoms of Amalur was a diamond in the rough, but a diamond it was, and I’m absolutely stoked that it’s – in all likeliness – coming back.
And honestly, props to THQ Nordic for all that they’ve been doing. Their library of IP – which also includes the upcoming Darksiders 3, by the way – is frankly ridiculous at this point, and if they manage it well enough, they can be an absolute powerhouse in the coming years.
Last year, THQ Nordic purchased the rights to the upcoming Biomutant, while recently they also acquired the beloved TimeSplitters IP. That’s on top of stuff like Saints Row, Metro, Red Faction, Sine Mora, and so much more. Keep up the surprisingly excellent work, THQ Nordic- you have our complete attention by this point.