GC: Spellbound making Gothic 4

By Robert Purchese Published 23 August, 2007

On PC, consoles. Date soon.

JoWooD has named Spellbound Entertainment as the new developer for Gothic 4, following its spat with original creator Piranha Bytes.

This next role-playing instalment will be heading to console for the first time in the series, alongside PC, and with a date expected soon.

Spellbound was the brains behind Wild West series Desperados, a strategy action game like the popular Commandos series. It was pretty good, too, as our Desperados 2: Cooper's Revenge review will attest.

Both parties insist the fundamentals of the series will be stuck to, but will be built upon to create the best offering to date. Naturally. More details are expected to be laid out to select press and fans in the next few days.

Gothic 3 was released late last year on PC to hearty applause. Developer Piranha Bytes has since gone on to sign a deal with publisher Deep Silver to create a new unnamed game, where it will use all its experience and knowledge its gained over the years.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (13) Latest comment 5 years ago

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  • mkreku #1 5 years ago

    Ok, hmm. Can't see Spellbound doing Gothic the way I want it to. I'd better look to Piranha Bytes new unnamed project for my dose of freeroaming RPG goodness!

  • Drakron #2 5 years ago

    I agree.

  • Waldo #3 5 years ago

    I'd better look to Piranha Bytes new unnamed project for my dose of freeroaming RPG goodness!

    Don't forget the massive amounts of bugs.

  • kallenai #4 5 years ago

    Gothic 3 without doubt the winner of 'Most Bugged Game of 2006', put me off the franchise for life.

  • SniperWolf #5 5 years ago

    There's fear and darkness all around you
    The criminals are on the run
    No use in hiding in the dark
    I'll hunt you down 'cause I'm the Dog

    I'm the Dog
    The big bad Dog
    The Bounty Hunter

  • jonnyreb #6 5 years ago

    Hmmmm, more broken game nonsense.

    This one certainly won't be on the wishlist.

  • mkreku #7 5 years ago

    Xiphos: Winner of the Time To Get Off the High Horse award.

    Since when do you think you can tell other people what a good RPG is and what's not? Gothic happens to be my favourite RPG series of all time, and for good reason. Not every RPG has to be a Fallout or Planescape clone.

  • jimmyjimbob #8 5 years ago

    Fingers crossed it'll mean a less buggy game. While I admire what Piranha Bytes done they clearly didn't have the time/resources to pull off the game the way they intended.

    Last one I played was II, but I've had III was even worse when it came to frustrating bugs, so I gave it a skip.

  • the_dudefather #9 5 years ago

    they havent finished making gothic 3 yet!

    loved what I played, the jerkiness on my pc was a shame

  • mkreku #10 5 years ago

    Yeah, Piranha Bytes have a history of releasing buggy games. Actually, everything they've ever released has been extremely buggy.. I don't even know why I love these games. But I do. I waited 8 months from the day I purchased Gothic 3 until I installed it for the first time, to let the patches catch up.. That's stuff you have to do as a fan of Piranha Bytes :|

    I guess I have some extraordinary patience with them.

  • spazmo #11 5 years ago

    From the cradle bars
    comes a beckoning voice
    it sends you spinning
    you have no choice......

  • mkreku #12 5 years ago

    What, the patches haven't been cracked yet?

  • UncleLou #13 5 years ago

    "freeroaming RPG goodness"

    The Winner for the coveted prize of 'I don't know what makes a good RPG'

    And the winner is *drum roll* YOU.

    Gothic 4 made by Spellbound = uninteresting unless a miracle happens.

    The new project from Piranha Bytes is where it's at. Gothic 1 and 2 are still unbeaten in so many respects, it's almost scary.