NetEase has decided to sell Fantastic Pixel Castle, as the studio seeks a new publisher in an effort to prevent shutting down
Update November 3, 2025: Fantastic Pixel Castle's studio head Gregg Street announced that the studio's operations are set to end on November 17.
Street conveyed this update through LinkedIn (source: GameDeveloper), noting, "There remains a slim chance of acquiring funding post-closure, contingent on how many team members stay on board."
He emphasized the studio's priority of securing new jobs for developers, whether at indie studio Fantastic Pixel Castle 2.0 or other established game and tech companies. "Following the shutdown of our emails and website, LinkedIn will be the go-to for contacting us," he mentioned.
Street expressed gratitude towards "playtesters, supporters," and "the multitude who sought to assist us in sourcing capital or through introductions," acknowledging that sometimes just one of these efforts is enough to succeed. He also appreciated NetEase for their support and hoped for continued collaboration with his team.
Original story, October 13, 2025: NetEase is planning to disinvest from Fantastic Pixel Castle, and according to the studio's head, Greg Street, failure to secure a publisher or investor for their MMORPG project, codenamed Ghost, might result in the studio shutting down.
In a LinkedIn statement, Street shared that their tenure as part of NetEase Games is concluding. "NetEase Games has been supportive in seeking another publisher for our game," he remarked, but acknowledged few deals are occurring in today's market, particularly for an MMORPG of their scale.
Efforts continue to find a supportive publisher or investor, while team members are encouraged to consider future prospects amid the uncertainty. If no partnership materializes soon, the studio faces the possibility of closure, affecting the entire team.
Street extended thanks to the Ghost gaming community, playtesters, and numerous advisors supporting their funding efforts amid industry challenges, hoping the game will eventually be played by many.
He concluded with gratitude for the FPC team, who accomplished remarkable work. Describing the team as the best he's worked with, he noted, "Data collected shows unprecedented morale and performance levels," emphasizing the past two years as highly fulfilling career-wise, despite the difficulties.