Paradox Interactive and Harebrained Schemes have announced in a press release that the two companies will be “parting ways” on January 1, 2024. The latter will retain its independence afterwards, while The Lamplighters League and other games previously developed by Harebrained Schemes will continue to be owned by Paradox.

In the press release, Paradox says the separation of the two companies is “the result of a mutual agreement, stemming from each party’s strategic and creative priorities.”

“Paradox has refocused its strategy towards its core niches within strategy and management games with endless qualities,” said Paradox Interactive COO Charlotta Nilsson. “We and HBS’ leadership have been discussing what would happen after the release of The Lamplighters League, but a new project or sequel in the same genre was not in line with our portfolio plans. Hence, we believe that a separation would be the best way forward. We’re very happy that this talented, gifted studio has the chance to continue and can’t wait to see what they will make next.”

Meanwhile, Harebrained Schemes has confirmed that it will continue to support The Lamplighters League for the foreseeable future, and will begin seeking new funding and partnership opportunities next year.

“Harebrained Schemes will support The Lamplighters League through the end of the year while we seek funding and partnerships for an independent future in 2024,” said Brian Poel, studio operations manager of Harebrained Schemes. “Our studio mission remains the same: to make games that challenge your mind and touch your heart.”

Earlier this month, not long after the launch of The Lamplighters League, Paradox Interactive called the strategy title’s initial commercial numbers “a big disappointment”, in spite of “cautiously positive player numbers in subscription services”.

The press release states that the game is set to produce a loss in the company’s financials for the fourth quarter. While the launch of the game on Xbox Game Pass has resulted in “cautiously positive player numbers”, the projected sales for the game are less than ideal. Between this and the already mediocre critical reception, the game is going to cause a loss of 248 million Swedish Krona (MSEK) for this quarter.

“Even though we see cautiously positive player numbers in subscription services, the commercial reception has been too weak, which is frankly a big disappointment. Game projects are by their nature always risky, but at the end of the day we haven’t performed at the level we should. It is painful but makes us more eager to roll up our sleeves and do better,” says Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester.

Game development is obviously a risky venture by its very nature, and there’s always the risk of running such losses if any part of the marketing or reception ends up being less-than-ideal. Paradox Interactive is set to release Cities: Skylines 2 and Star Trek Infinite later this year, so here’s hoping these two end up faring much better than The Lamplighters League.

Following that, tomorrow, on September 20, Recreate Games’ multiplayer party title Party Animals will launch, and it will be available day one on Game Pass for cloud, console, and PC. The day after that, on September 21, Payday 3 will see its global release, and it, too, will be a day one Game Pass release on cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Later in the month, on September 29, Geometric Interactive and Annapurna Interactive’s puzzle adventure title COCOON will be available day one via Game Pass on console and PC. Meanwhile, early next month, on October 3, open world action RPG Gotham Knights will come to the service via cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. On the same day, Paradox Interactive’s turn-based tactics title The Lamplighters League will join Game Pass’ library on the day of its release via cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Additionally, a 10-hour early access trial of EA Sports FC 24 will also be available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers via EA Play on September 22.

Set in an alternate history 1930s setting, The Lamplighters League sees players recruiting a team of misfits, scoundrels, and heroes to work against the machinations of a tyrannical cult called the Banished Court, which is on the cusp of world domination. Combining real-time infiltration, turn-based strategy mechanics, and a focus on story and worldbuilding, The Lamplighters League seems to be shaping up well. Check out its trailer below.

The Lamplighters League is set to launch on October 3 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It will also be available via Game Pass at launch.