Relic Entertainment's Quest to Accelerate Game Development

Relic Entertainment has experienced a rollercoaster of ups and downs over the past couple of decades. The studio rose to fame with the release of the critically acclaimed real-time strategy title Homeworld in the late 1990s, followed by other successful RTS games like Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Company of Heroes. However, after THQ's bankruptcy, Relic was acquired by Sega in 2013, and the RTS genre has since become a niche market concern. In March 2024, Sega announced the sale of Relic, and CEO Justin Dowdeswell has been working to ensure the studio's sustainability. Dowdeswell aims to focus on smaller-scope titles and accelerate game development. He believes that Relic's strong fan base and expertise in the RTS genre are key to its success, but acknowledges the need to adapt to changing market trends and technologies, including the potential use of AI in game development.