Update: The shutdown has now been confirmed. Junction Point is no more, and Warren Spector has left the employ of Disney.
Original Article: That's the word on the Internet, at any rate. According to a tweet from Chris Roberts' development company:
Second 21 gun salute for a studio in 7 days.Fare-the-well Junction Point!We hope that you all find new studios soon!
— RSI (@RobertsSpaceInd) January 28, 2013
Now, as yet, there doesn't seem to be any confirmation of this fact, even on the Junction Point website. However, Chris Roberts and Warren Spector (who heads up Junction Point) have known each other since the days of Origin Systems, have worked together on many projects, and in all probability still keep in not-irregular contact. Both Roberts Space Industries (RSI)/Cloud Imperium Games and Junction Point Studios are located in Austin, Texas, so the opportunities for the two men to cross paths and remain in easy contact are definitely there.
It would stand to reason, in other words, that the people at RSI might have the inside track where news about the fortunes and fates of other former Origin Systems developers is concerned.
And we know, too, that Junction Point's most recent game, Epic Mickey 2, didn't sell all that well:
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two reportedly sold just 270,000 copies in North America between its release in November 2012 and the end of the year. This is according to figures obtained by The Los Angeles Times, citing an unnamed tipster with access to sales data collected by research firm NPD Group.
The 2010 original was a moderate success and sold 1.3 million units in the US over a similar time period, from its November launch until the end of the year. If the figures are accurate it means that, despite being available on Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii and Wii U, sales for the sequel were less than a quarter of its Wii-only predecessor.
So it's certainly possible that Disney has opted to shutter the studio. We'll have to wait for official word.
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