Relic’s strategy following its Sega split includes ‘smaller-scale’ games and ‘reimaginings’ of classics

Relic Entertainment has detailed its new business strategy following last year’s split from former owner Sega.

Last March, the Japanese firm announced that it was selling Vancouver, Canada-based Relic to a holding company to be newly established by the UK investment firm Emona Capital LLP, enabling it to become an independently-run development studio.

Relic, which specializes in real-time strategy franchises like Company of Heroes, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Homeworld, said on Monday that it plans to focus on three key areas going forward.

It intends to deepen its commitment to existing titles, including Company of Heroes 3, with new DLC and updates.

In addition to continuing to develop the larger, complex strategy titles the studio is known for, the company will also “actively pursue the development and publishing of smaller-scope, in-house games”.

Thirdly, it plans to reimagine some of its classic games for modern audiences. “This may include re-releases, remasters, or brand-new franchise experiences that capture the spirit of the originals while appealing to a new generation of players,” the studio said.

“Relic Entertainment has always been a studio defined by its resilience and passion for creating unforgettable gaming experiences,” said Relic CEO Justin Dowdeswell. “This new chapter marks a significant milestone for us.

“By embracing independence and focusing on our core strengths, we are confident in our ability to deliver innovative, high-quality games that will resonate with players around the world. The future of Relic Entertainment is bright, and we are excited to embark on this new journey.”

Speaking to Game Developer, Dowdeswell said the new strategy won’t lead to redundancies and that the studio is on “much better footing” after making layoffs following last year’s split from Sega.

Discussing the studio’s plans for smaller-scale games, he said: “We’re looking to operate with smaller teams on shorter timeframes, which means likely getting a game in market roughly in the 1-2 year range. Budget costs will vary depending on scope, but these titles will have a notably smaller budget than the big Relic RTS games we will continue to work on.”