This is potentially good news for the state of Rhode Island.
After 38 Studios went belly up late last year, they left Rhode Island on the hook for many, many millions. But maybe they can get some of that back when the former developer's IPs and technology is auctioned off.
According to a new Associated Press report , two dozen parties – including "well-known industry figures" – are interested in bidding on such properties from 38 Studios/Big Huge Games. The auction will take place on December 11 and initial bids are due by December 4. All proceeds will go to the state of Rhode Island, which assumed ownership of the franchises in question when 38 Studios went bankrupt. They went down fast and hard, unfortunately.
Included in the auction will be the rights to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and the MMO Project Copernicus. Other Big Huge Games IPs include Rise of Nations , Catan and Rise of Legends . Previously, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter said the Copernicus IP could fetch around $20 million, but that wouldn't come close to paying off the incurred expenses, which could be close to $100 million.
Still, it's something.
