Robot Entertainment has announced that three of its projects – Orcs Must Die! Unchained, Hero Academy, and Hero Academy 2 – are being shut down. In an official update, CEO Patrick Hudson revealed that the titles were being run at a loss for several months. However, it’s no longer possible for the developer to do so.

“Making and supporting a game is a long and challenging journey. Along the way, there are plenty of highs and plenty of lows,” Hudson’s statement reads. “The communities who play our games join us on these journeys. We know this decision affects our players as much as it does us.

“We’ve kept these games operating at a financial loss for many months. Unfortunately, it’s no longer sustainable for us to do so. We must shift our focus to future games and make our investments there.”

Players can still partake of all three titles, but they have only until April 8th, 10 AM CT to do so. All players logging in to Orcs Must Die! Unchained and Hero Academy 2 will receive a “substantial” amount of free hard and soft currencies. The currencies will take up to 24 hours to reflect though, so be patient.

Robot Entertainment didn’t announce any layoffs in the wake of these closures, so it’s not the end of the world. Furthermore, it’s focused on developing two other games, which it hopes to reveal later this year. While it’s sad to see Orcs Must Die! Unchained and Hero Academy winding down, it will be interesting to see what the developer has planned next.

Having released on the PC earlier this year, Robot Entertainment’s Orcs Must Die: Unchained is now available for the PlayStation 4 and it’s free to play for all.

Much like its predecessors, Orcs Must Die: Unchained combines tower defense with third person action combat. You can upgrade your character with better weapons and abilities along with buying better traps to fight off the hordes of Orcs.

Along with a single-player campaign, players can also team up with each other in Sabotage using spells and traps to fight the opposing team. There’s also Survival Mode for battling against endless numbers of Orcs, earning money to upgrade your repertoire as you go.

For those subscribed to PlayStation Plus, Orcs Must Die: Unchained offers a free DLC pack that contains 1,250 gold, 8000 skulls, tons of potions and skull, a Battle Pass that’s valid for one week (which grants additional experience and rewards), a Dragon Guardian, skins and much more.

I had a chance to play Orcs Must Die! Unchained at last year’s PlayStation Experience. Having never played a single Orcs game in the franchise before, I think I caught on rather quickly and got bored even quicker.

The playable character I was set up with was a big, burly man who carried a crossbow on his back and always had the face of a cartoon-ish warrior. In a rather limited-ranged demo, I was set up in a dungeon with three corridors. The walls were paved with gray stone as were the floors; two of the three paths were gated and had a door, while the corridor I was situated in held the core — a glowing light centered in what looked like a fireplace that the enemy team wants to destroy.

Before the round begins and the enemies pour in from the locked gates at the end of the farthest corridor, the game allows nearly a minute or two to lay out panel traps to slow down or stop the enemy flanks. Panels cost funds and you are allotted a certain amount of credits to spend on traps, and when you run out of your credits, simply replenish after the first completed round of enemies. Spike panel traps are allotted for placement along the ceiling and walls as well as more spikes and tar pads for the floor. The spikes obviously poke out and kills enemies as they run over the panel traps and tar gets them stuck forcing the enemies to slow down. I wasn’t shown other varieties while being guided with one of the developers, but I’m sure there are more traps within the game itself.

"Aside from traps, the game allows you to set up one guardian who stands at the center of all three paths and protects from either side the enemies emerge."

Aside from traps, the game allows you to set up one guardian who stands at the center of all three paths and protects from either side the enemies emerge. This guardian is similar to a trap panel and cannot move off of where it is placed which  seems to be a predetermined location, very close to the core. The placement of the guardian wasn’t terrible because he’d pretty much be the last ditch effort in saving the core from doom. There is also a cauldron above head pre-placed within the level that can be shot with the crossbow, spewing lava down over the oncoming enemies.

I found placing the traps tedious and boring. There wasn’t much corridor space to begin with along the ceiling, walls, and floor which practically made where I placed the panel traps predetermined for me, not allowing much freedom to decide for myself. But when I placed my last panel after running out of funds it was time to manually deflate the clock and start the round.

Orcs flooded through the locked gate on the farthest end, both big and small began to set foot on the traps and came to their untimely demise. As the traps began to set-off and more enemies began to break through to the corridor’s fork, the guardian was there to help defend the core. My character was also equipped with a crossbow to shoot down enemies that got past the guardian. As swarms began to overload my guardian and take down my traps so too were their numbers dwindling. I finished off the last few with my crossbow and saved the core from certain doom.

"Sure, Orcs Must Die! Unchained was a demo, but for a demo it didn’t prove much and didn’t give me even an inkling of excitement. "

Cut-to a couple rounds later, I finished off the first swarm coming down the longest corridor by way of traps, guardian, and the cauldron of lava above head. Then the second corridor opens up and brings in a new batch of baddies. After learning the secret to alternate traps and lay them out in specific areas, the numbers of goblins tended to not be as overwhelming as before. Add to that the second gate opened only after I finished off the swarm from the first gate. After the second gate of enemies was destroyed, I won the day and the demo finished out.

Sure, Orcs Must Die! Unchained was a demo, but for a demo it didn’t prove much and didn’t give me even an inkling of excitement. There must be something hidden in the game that could make it more exciting, and if there is it wasn’t on display at PSX. Running down corridors, saving a core, and beating out the enemies flanks was definitely a flat experience for now.

This game was previewed on the PlayStation 4.

"We looked at it and saw folks weren’t playing each mode as much as survival, and it was hurting our survival mode."

With how critically successful Orcs Must Die 2 was, why shift to a free to play MOBA-esque PvP format?

So we’re actually not doing the MOBA-esque stuff anymore. We have since moved on to where were concentrating more on more of the root of the game. That mode is actually gone, and now we only have a, what we call, survival mode. What that is is our traditional tower defense game. So it’s much more about being our action tower defense game, where your placing traps, where you’re stopping minions from getting in the rift. And you’re doing that in either single player, co-op, or three player. So that offense of defense of side of the game isn’t there anymore, and it’s more just a traditional defensive multiplayer, that way.

What is the current status of the games open beta? What new heroes, traps add maps have been added since the closed beta begin?

The current status of the open beta – we actually have a new patch that’s coming out on Tuesday, that reintroduces the game to where it’s more about the traditional game play. We’ve just spent a ton of time last 3 to 6 months working on our heroes, making our heroes feel stronger. Working on our physics traps – we’re bringing what we consider the lifeblood of OMD back into the game. So since the closed beta began, I think we’ve added four or five heroes since then and a handful of – it’s hard to remember going back through the traps, but for this patch specifically I think that 30 plus, what we call battlegrounds to play on now. I think will have 14 heroes that are ready to play. This is on the PC side of things. PS4 isn’t in any beta right now. Into 2017 will have the PS4 version.

What changes have been made over the past few years to maintain the status, especially as hero shooters have risen in popularity?

Now we’re back to our traditional defense of game play. Survival gameplay. So now to talk about a little bit more, now we feel like we are in a unique position. This is the genre – the tower defense game – we feel like we helped start. When our focusing all of our energy on that, making sure that’s great. So we’re off on our own doing this cool mode.

Can you tell us more about the big upcoming update for the game and how it will present a more “classic Orcs Must Die” feel?

If you think about the important things in a Orcs Must Die game, it’s the traps, it’s the player power, it’s the physics, it’s the humor. All of our focus has been on that, making sure that that’s there. Just making sure it’s a strong title.

"We have a lot of ideas. The real benefit of this game, kind of being online, it’s a living game. You can literally go on forever."

What motivated the decision to remove Siege mode, which has caused upset among the player base? Will we ever see it return in some form or another?

The decision was really based upon – it was kind of a complicated decision. One, we were finding less people playing the mode rather than the traditional mode, by a very large margin. Two, when we’re designing the game having two different modes – which was Siege is what it was called, which was an attacking, defensive mode versus our survival mode – they conflicted with each other. We had to make a lot of decisions that would hurt one mode or the other. So for example, the power of the heroes – we had to really make it balanced when facing other heroes in siege mode. In survival mode we wanted them to feel powerful against minions, and we didn’t care that they were over powered against heroes. Those two modes kind of fight with each other. We looked at it and saw folks weren’t playing each mode as much as survival, and it was hurting our survival mode. We focused all of our attention there, and that’s what’s really moving that over to make all the right decisions on that game play element.

How difficult has it been to balance heroes over the past few years? How do you feel about the current meta right now?

So that’s kind of two different questions. The balance and the heroes like I mentioned in the previous question, before we had to worry about a hero fighting another hero, and the balance had to be perfect. Which is great for a certain style of gameplay we were doing that. But not great for survival mode, which is what we have right now. Sent out easier for us, but now they have to be balanced in a different way. They have to be balanced in a standard gameplay way as opposed to a head-to-head way. So it’s more about adjusting their balance against minions and making them feel strong.

What is the current status of Orcs Must Die: Unchained on PS4? How has it been working with the controller and what kind of balance changes do you often look at, keeping console players in mind?

It’s been great working on the PS4. Really the way we look at PS4 is it’s it’s own first class citizen. We look at it as we look at the PC version. So everything that’s important to a PS4 player from general feel, to trophies, to interacting with the community, to benefits for being a PS plus subscriber, all of that we take into mind when we’re doing the PS4 version of the game. So we look at it really as first class citizens to benefits for being a PS plus subscriber, all of that we take into mind when we’re doing the PS4 version of the game. So we look at it really as first class citizens, it’s just like the PC version.

"We’re early enough into the PS4 Pro development baseline title that we still need to figure out how all of those things fall into place."

Is it possible that Orcs Must Die: Unchained comes to Xbox One at some point? Furthermore, is there a specific reason why an Xbox one version is not planned yet?

No. It’s just not on our radar right now. We have a really great relationship with Sony. They were really excited to have the title on there. That’s kind of the size of our studio we can focus on only a couple things at once, and this is just a great world for us to live in.

What other future updates can we look forward to? What kind of ideas does the team have for the game?

We have a lot of ideas. The real benefit of this game, kind of being online, it’s a living game. You can literally go on forever. We plan on doing regular updates we were bringing on new heroes, new mode, new minions, new traps, new maps. So I think it’s easy to just kind of think of, like, where can we take The game? Imagine those things as you can see them falling into place as the months go by. But it will be regularly updated for sure.

Are there any plans to support PS4 Pro with multiple graphic support? Maybe 60 FPS gameplay and need a 4K support?

We’re still working out all of the details, we’ve got it running and looking great on the PS4. We’re early enough into the PS4 Pro development baseline title that we still need to figure out how all of those things fall into place.

What is your take on the PS4 Pro and it’s GPU? Do you think it’s a good enough upgrade to last for another few years?

I am not a tech person so I probably shouldn’t answer that. So I can tell you I’m very excited about it. From a laymen’s standpoint it’s great.

"You’ll be able to operate your traps, you’ll decide what types of bonuses those traps give you."

What according to you is the most exciting part about the PS4 Pro?

A lot of things. It’s interesting because I haven’t been exposed to it I taught until walking around the show floor. When looking at some of the games that are taking advantage of it on these 85 inch screens, in 4K, and there’s no anti-aliasing problem. They look amazing. Far better than when you’re watching videos on the Internet, when you think about it. It’s a remarkable step up. The HDR support looks amazing on it. I’m interested to see how it helps VR too.

I also wanted to ask what is your take on the Xbox one Scorpio and how do you think it will change the landscape for console gaming?

I couldn’t tell you.

Do you have any plans to add HDR support?

That’s part of our trying to figure out what’s best for the pro version, we have to look at the whole title. I wouldn’t be surprised.

Is there anything else you would like GamingBolt’s followers to know about?

The game is really, really rich. It’s a really fast-paced action game and you kind of see that at the service-level. But I think when you play a couple games you’ll realize how much depth it has to it. There’s a ton of customization, a ton of ways of making the game feel like it’s your game. You’ll be able to operate your traps, you’ll decide what types of bonuses those traps give you. You’ll be able to choose your heroes, there’s a ton of depth to it.that’s just something we get fired up about when we think about the game, and we think you’ll really dig it.

If you enjoyed the hilarity and well paced story of Borderlands 2, more so than Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, then you’ll be surprised to hear that creative director Paul Hellquist has left Gearbox Software. He’s now at Robot Entertainment, the developer of Orcs Must Die, as lead designer and part of Orcs Must Die Unchained.

Robot Entertainment CEO Patrick Hudson announced the same, stating that, “I spent a considerable amount of time with Paul recently, and I was consistently impressed with his breadth of thinking, passion for great design, and humility.

“His remarkable portfolio of work is clearly well-earned. Paul is a great fit for Robot, and I expect him to have a profound impact on the games we make.”

How will that fare for Borderlands 3 – which the ending of The Pre-Sequel more or less confirmed – or the franchise in general? We’ll find out in the coming months but for now, Gearbox is focused on both Tales From the Borderlands (developed by Telltale Games) and Battleborn.

The free to play romp, Orcs Must Die!, is coming to the PlayStation 4 next year as Orcs Must Die! Unchained, Sony announced at their PlayStation Experience keynote today. The tower defense game will see players defending castles using medieval traps and goofy contraptions, in a 5v5 setup.

This also marks the first time the series has appeared on consoles, and it looks pretty cool on the PlayStation 4 as well. The games are great fun too, so I wouldn’t be averse to actually playing them on the big screen, provided the experience is as well translated as, say, Plants vs Zombies was.

Orcs Must Die! Unchained was only one of numerous announcements that Sony made at their PlayStation keynote. Other major announcements also highlighted tons of indie games, in addition to major upcoming AAA games.

Stay tuned to GamingBolt for coverage on all of that, and everything else that happens over the next two days at the PlayStation Experience.

In Orcs Must Die, you had to defend your Rift Portal from the rampaging armies of Orcs, which included the ranged Kobolds and heavy hitting Trolls. Unchained follows the same principle but it’s you who’s going to be doing the invading this time. You’ll have three separate lanes on each map and can prioritize your defense or offense accordingly. First, you’ll decide what minions and traps to play using a deck of cards. The further you play, the more cards you’ll unlock, thus giving you a chance to play different kinds of traps and minions.

"It's very frenetic at first and a definite change from what most MOBAs do. Rather than your minions being cannon fodder, they will serve to bolster you and eventually help you obtain victory."

Once your deck is built, you can spend money to either send out minions or create traps to defend your lane. As more lanes open up, you can then decide whether to further fortify your defense, send more minions to the enemy side or even upgrade your current minions for an advantage. You can also lend new powers and upgrades to your hero to further tip the scales in your favour.

It’s very frenetic at first and a definite change from what most MOBAs do. Rather than your minions being cannon fodder, they will serve to bolster you and eventually help you obtain victory. Remember, the first team to get 20 minions into the enemy’s Rift portal is the winner. So even if you’re the defence minded player from the previous Orcs Must Die titles, you can set up enough traps to defend your position while bolstering your minions to rush headlong into the enemy portal.

Then again, you could also create an average modicum of traps and buff your bros to fight side by side with them. As in the original, you’ll be able to equip new abilities which include added health and gear for better stats.

"For those not used to typical MOBA tactics, this allows them to contribute to the team without having to directly enter the fray."

Keep in mind though that defense and offense lanes are kept separate. If your opponent has built up their defense in one lane, then your minions will be heading there rather than fighting head on with enemy minions. It’s a very different dynamic from what one may be used to in MOBA titles but it definitely feeds into the argument that this is still very much Orcs Must Die, save for the 5 vs. 5 matches full of frenetic heroes, insane defenses and varied minions.

Matches are still pretty intense though and much more strategic than simply wailing on your foe until you level up and purchase better equipment. For those not used to typical MOBA tactics, this allows them to contribute to the team without having to directly enter the fray. If you build up a good custom deck for your hero, then you’ll be a force to reckon with regardless of whether you attack or defend.

Orcs Must Die: Unchained is still very much a work in progress and may confuse those who want a straightforward MOBA or tower defense or even follow-up to the original. Nonetheless, it manages to maintain the spirit of the previous games while similarly advancing it into new, multiplayer-focused directions. It’s also tons of fun to play, which is always a good thing, and apparently be out later this year for fans to experience. Stay tuned for more news on the game in the coming months.

Orcs Must Die! Unchained is a follow-up to the classic tower defense series from Robot Entertainment. Unchained has seemingly followed a different creative route though, according to design director Ian Fischer, who told GameSpot that the game started as a more strategic version of Team Fortress 2 but is now being identified as a MOBA (massive online battle arena) game.

“When we first started working on the game, if you could take a time machine back two years, ‘MOBA’ never would have come out of our mouths. If we were explaining it, we would say, ‘It’s like playing two games of Orcs Must Die simultaneously’ or ‘It’s like Orcs Must Die but now you get to do the offensive side too.’ The game that we compared it to the most at that point was TF2. ‘Think about TF2 but more strategic,’ that’s how we’d describe the game.

“When we were getting ready to go to PAX and show the game for the first time. We got two dozen people from the college down the street from our dev studio, and we didn’t tell them anything. We just had them sit down and play it. They helped us immeasurably to refine our demo for PAX, but also, to a person, all two dozen of them said, ‘Your game is a MOBA.’ We got to a point where we were saying, ‘We have to come out and tell everybody we’re not a MOBA. We have to position ourselves as not being a MOBA at all,’ but everybody said ‘MOBA,’ so at that point, it was like, why fight it? I’m not gonna spend the next year trying to convince you that it’s not a MOBA. You think it’s a MOBA, it’s a MOBA.”

Orcs Must Die! Unchained is currently in the closed beta stage. Do you think it’s a MOBA or not? Let us know in the comments.

Orcs Must Die! Unchained developer Robot Entertainment courted a fair bit of controversy recently when it said that “toxic players” were a good thing since they show up and stick with one’s game. Now, in a statement to Polygon, the developer has clarified its comments on the same.

“Before we get started, let us be crystal clear – toxic players that worsen the experience for the Orcs Must Die! Unchained community absolutely will not be tolerated.”

While the on-going closed beta is meant to gauge player feedback, “If a person chooses to restrict or impede upon the gameplay and community experience with inappropriate behavior, then we will ensure they are disciplined and, if needed, banned.”

Robot Entertainment also added that it would work “quickly and decisively” to address unruly players to ensure proper feedback from “passionate” players. Have you gotten in on the Orcs Must Die! Unchained experience? Let us know what you think below.

Those pesky orcs just never know when to die. After the conclusion of Orcs Must Die 2, Robot Entertainment has announced that the third iteration of their popular tower defense action title, Orcs Must Die: Unchained, will be a free to play team-based multiplayer title.

Players will now be able to compete in 5 vs. 5 skirmishes against the killer orcs while those who want a purely single-player experience can play with bots. You’ll have a far deeper array of traps, classes and strategies this time around, with the minion summons one of the newer abilities. Check out the teaser trailer to see just how much more chaotic Orcs Must Die: Unchained can get.

Interestingly, you can already access the game if you pick up one of the Founder’s Packs. However, it’s currently in the alpha stage and you’ll need to drop $150 for immediate access. What are your thoughts on teaser? Let us know in the comments below.