The future of the Blood Bowl video game series is secure. Following the insolvency of publisher Nacon—a move triggered by majority shareholder Bigben Interactive’s failure to meet a loan repayment—the franchise has officially moved to Slitherine.
Slitherine, known for its work on Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, has acquired the license, publishing rights, and the full back catalog from Nacon. In a move that ensures continuity for the series, Slitherine confirmed it will proceed with the next Warhammer Blood Bowl title previously announced under the previous publisher. Crucially, the company will maintain its partnership with Cyanide Studio, the long-time developer of the series.
A Commitment to Community and Continuity
The transition comes at a pivotal time for the franchise. Blood Bowl 3, released in 2023, struggled to meet fan expectations, ultimately holding a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam. Critics, including IGN, noted issues with bugs and a lack of refinement, resulting in a 5/10 score.
Marco Minoli, Director of Publishing at Slitherine, expressed his support for the existing development team. "We have enormous respect for what Cyanide has built over the years, and we’re excited to continue working closely with the team to support and grow the series together with its passionate community," Minoli said. He added that the studio plans to focus heavily on community feedback and long-term engagement.
Patrick Pligersdorffer, CEO of Cyanide, echoed this sentiment: "We are delighted to partner with Slitherine to ensure the future of the Blood Bowl video games. Slitherine has proven its expertise, publishing high-quality strategy games. We believe it is a perfect match."
What Happens Next?
While the transition is finalized, fans won't have to wait long for more details on the path forward. Slitherine has confirmed that further information regarding the next Warhammer Blood Bowl project will be unveiled during the Slitherine Next Event on July 22.
For those tracking the broader situation at Nacon, the company’s insolvency filing earlier this year—which affected a portfolio of 16 studios—had cast doubt on the future of several major titles, including GreedFall 2, Hell is Us, RoboCop, and Test Drive Unlimited. With the Blood Bowl rights now settled, the franchise moves away from the uncertainty surrounding the publisher’s collapse.