Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods Announced [UPDATED]

[Starfox]

Just when one thinks that a game is relatively dead, one can be surprised by some official announcement out of the blue. It's the case with the press release issued today by Jowood (Gothic 3 publisher) stating that the first official expansion for the game -- titled Forsaken Gods --will be available sometimes during the fourth quarter of 2008.

The info contained within the announcement are rather scarce though, and no screenshot has been issued yet (the screens above are from the original Gothic 3). Still, Jowood states that Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods should be linking Gothic 3 and Gothic 4 stories. The press release is so short that we can give it to you right away:

Add-On for the award winning roleplaying game Gothic 3. Gothic 3 – Forsaken Gods will answer many open questions and guarantee a seamless step to Gothic 4. Once more you take on the role of the nameless Hero and again you have to raise your sword in anger to save the world of Gothic. On your journey you will meet old friends – but be careful, some old alliances may not have lasted the test of time….

JoWood is working on the expansion and the feedback from fans is extremely important to the developer of Gothic 3 - Forsaken Gods. The game designer and developer are studying the Gothic message boards each day and will incorporate as many of the fan-wishes as possible while working on the extension.

The release of Gothic 3 - Forsaken Gods is planned for Q4 2008. Further information will follow soon!

No developer is announced for this expansion (the relationship between Jowwod and Piranha Bytes -- Gothic 3 developer -- has been over for several months) and the last news about Gothic 4 was that it was in need of a developer too. So everything is a bit blurry there. Good to know that more information will come soon then...


Erratum: bobdog informed me (below) that the problems between Jowood and Piranha Bytes seems to have been officially solved. My info regarding this was a bit outdated. Does that mean that Piranha Bytes are the ones to develop Forsaken Gods? We don't know. That's a possibility but Jowood still have to clarify that point.

Furthermore, Gothic 4 has already a developer, Spellbound Entertainment which has been chosen last Summer. So my apologies for the lack of accuracy there.

The news on the main site has also been updated accordingly.

[bobdog]

Actually, as of 11 March 2008:

According to an official press release, JoWooD Productions and Piranha Bytes settle all differences. A quote of the statement:

Austrian publisher JoWooD Productions Software AG and German development studio Piranha Bytes (Pluto 13 GmbH) are pleased to announce the settlement of all differences and disagreements of the past months. Both companies continue to work on their respective projects without excluding further cooperation in potential future projects.

Currently, JoWooD Productions and Spellbound Entertainment are working on the fourth part of the Gothic series; Piranha Bytes puts its efforts into a new role playing game having the working title “RPB”. The JoWooD-branded Gothic products available in stores will remain within the worldwide distribution network of JoWooD Productions Software AG.

“We are happy that we put aside our differences with the company Pluto 13. After a long and successful period of cooperation, it was of great concern to find the best possible solution for both parties! We are proud to continue with the marketing of products of the Gothic-series and will fulfil the high-quality expectations of its loyal fans”, explains Dr. Albert Seidl, CEO JoWooD Productions.

“Our differences in the past are history. By putting them aside, Piranha Bytes as well as JoWooD are now able to continue constructive-minded work full of vim and vigor. For Piranha Bytes that means the development of entertaining and high-class role playing games”, as Mr. Michael Rüve, managing director Pluto 13, points out.

So ... there might be one last pairing of the two companies for this expansion.

[Starfox]

Thanks for correcting me bobdog, my information is a bit outdated. I guess I missed this info because it was not put in the game but the business section  of our news provider

Furthermore, Gothic 4 has indeed a developer, Spellbound Entertainment (which apparently already worked on the patch 1.6 for Gothic 3 released a little earlier this year).

So I guess I will post an erratum 

[bobdog]

Well, the end result, as you noted, is we still don't know who will put out this expansion. However, with a December 2008 release date, I'd hazard a guess that the original team at Piranha Bytes might be it -- they may have already started working on it when all the headaches started, and only after closing this most recent gap felt they could release it so quickly. That's my guess, at any rate.

[bobdog]

And now this update from the Gothic site:

Following Monday's announcement regarding an add-on for Gothic 3 called "Forsaken Gods", gamona.de directed some questions at JoWooD. As announced, the add-on should bring answers to some unresolved questions and prepare the transition to Gothic 4, which is in development also.

JoWooD's latest press announcement itself leaves rather important questions unanswered. What does the add-on do? Will it finally fix Gothic 3? Who is the developer? The gamona.de interview with JoWooD tries to clear the surrounding mist a little.

The name of the developer remains a secret for the time being and might be lifted within the next few weeks. Both the add-on and the future Gothic 4 will be developed simultaneously, though most probably not by the same studio. The add-on is expected to secure a seamless transition from Gothic 3 to Gothic 4. It's also possible «Forsaken Gods» might be released as "stand alone" add-on.