Blizzard's Titan reduces team and starts again

Blizzard is hitting the reset button on its in-development MMO codenamed 'Titan' according to sources familiar with the matter.

Talking to VentureBeat, the source said that the 100-strong Titan team has been reduced by 70 positions with those team members being reallocated to other projects. The remaining core will also start again on the project.

In a statement from Blizzard responding to the story, spokesman Shon Damron said that they have come to a point whereby they need to make some large design and technology changes to the game.

'We've always had a highly iterative development process, and the unannounced MMO is no exception,' said Danron. 'We're using this opportunity to shift more of our resources to assist with other projects while the core team adapts our technology and tools.'

Due to a leak of Blizzard's schedule, there was speculation that Titan would be released in 2014. Now, it is not expected until at least 2016 although Danron emphasises the fact that there is still no announced release date for the title.

Blizzard is of course famous for its hugely successful MMO World of Warcraft, as well as its Starcraft and Diablo brands, from which is has amassed a great deal of money. As such, hopes should be high that the project won't halt completely due to lack of funds.

Project Titan was first hinted at in 2007 with Blizzard forum users speculating on its existence following a job posting from Blizzard for character and environment artists to work on a top secret next-generation MMO. The project's existence was then confirmed in 2008 with the codename Titan leaking out two years later on an internal project schedule.