You guys are getting next Torchlights?

Runic Games no longer exists. They where shuttered by their corporate parent (Perfect World) after the release of Hob.

Echtra Games (also a Perfect World studio) built TL3, and included at least some of the Runic staff, but had conflicting agendas. Perfect World wanted a G-a-a-S, Max Schaefer (the lead dev) wanted an MMO, and the fans wanted a sequel to TL2. Trying to achieve fan expectations used up all the money Max had left, leaving TL3 in the largely unfinished state it's in. Echtra was then sold off to Zynga and now makes mobile games.

XD Inc, who made Torchlight Infinite, did it under license, and had nothing to do with any of the earlier games.

At this point, even the ownership of the IP is a little murky.

The Embracer group went on a huge buying spree, and bought up both Gearbox and (at least parts of) Perfect World. Then created Gearbox Publishing, which was to be the heart of major gaming empire, and among other things, had control of the IP. However, the Embracer Group had a financing deal fall through with the Saudis, and instead are in the process of selling Gearbox off to 2K (Take Two Interactive).

So at this point, who owns and/or controls the IP is a little unclear (at least from my perspective).

Regardless, expecting an actual sequel to TL2 anytime soon would be is probably unrealistically optimistic.

If someone did want to make another Torchlight game at this point, they'd have to assemble a studio (or at least the core of one) and apply to the IP owner for a license (and possibly financing).

There isn't likely to BE a "next Torchlight".

My biggest question is "Will there ever be a legitimate spiritual successor?"

They didn't *have* to call Torchlight "Fate 4" but that's what it is.

The next Torchlight doesn't have to carry the name. It just has to be "this right here but more and better".

Originally posted by Masque:

My biggest question is "Will there ever be a legitimate spiritual successor?"

They didn't *have* to call Torchlight "Fate 4" but that's what it is.

The next Torchlight doesn't have to carry the name. It just has to be "this right here but more and better".

At this point; a Torchlight-like with passionate Designers who understand the 2010 era of this genre and actually honor those boundaries is probably our best bet currently.

Mobile, Frontiers, and Infinite drifted away from what TL1&2 were built to be.
In some ways - we have to look reverse in order to go forward.

Mobile, Frontiers, and Infinite sought to sustain economically through additional services and outside inspiration; only to separate it's market from the early intention of the series.

I agree with Masque that TL2's "spiritual successor" need not be a hard-coded TL2 clone. I think TL2 has a unique mixture of features which make it what it is. It does the ARPG basics just right, specially loot, so the successor definitely has to have that. But a big part of what makes TL2 unique is its 'lightheartedness' which shows itself in a few key places, like the zippy movement and combat, the art-style and the characters design. I think for a game to be described as TL2's successor it has to nail that lightheartedness too.

Originally posted by Masque:

They didn't *have* to call Torchlight "Fate 4" but that's what it is.

There's a lot of Diablo "DNA" in the Torchlight series as well (especially TL1).

Max and Eric Schaefer are Condor Games (Blizzard North) Alums, as were a number of other people who were part of Runic (Matt Uelmen for example).