After six years, the developers behind Project M have called it quits.
In a message on their website, PMDev revealed that they decided to end work on theSuper Smash Bros Melee mod after the recent release of v3.6. They simply did not want to keep work on the game dragging on. PMDev will formally be disbanded, however they are at work on completely original projects.
They asked fans to talk to their attorney for any further inquiries regarding the mod. Of course, everyone approached Ryan with the same question. Ryan made it clear they received no legal action that forced them to stop.
To clarify: We weren't contacted, issued a C&D, threatened or had legal action taken against us in any way, but we want it to stay that way.
— Video Game Attorney (@MrRyanMorrison) December 2, 2015
Project M was borne out of a desire to take Super Smash Bros Brawl and make it suitable for competition. Not only did they modify the game by removing tripping and rebalancing, PMDev added in fan favorites and kept updates going, albeit not as quickly as fans hoped. While small, the project gained enough steam as a viable game, at least until the next Super Smash Bros game came out.
Super Smash Bros for Wii U put Project M in an existential dilemma. If the new and official game is now good for competition, why would the fans keep playing it? Tournament organizers also faced a dilemma, as Super Smash Bros for Wii U could open up opportunities for their events, but not if they continued to host the unofficial game as well. Ultimately, Project M closing was not a matter of if but when.
Do you have any fond Project M memories? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. You can read their full statement below.
Six years ago, we started a journey born out of our shared love for competitive fighting games. Eventually, the electrifying passion that coursed through us arced out and drew in more people until our small circle of friends grew into a team, and that team grew into an international community. Project M and its community have grown larger than any of us ever anticipated, and it’s truly heartwarming to see all of the unforgettable connections and friendships that have been forged through this project.
Unfortunately, we’re here to say that we’re at the end of that road.
We’ve learned so much in the process of making Project M—accumulating life-changing lessons in communication, team work, professionalism, work ethic, and more—but there’s only so far we can take those skills in a volunteer project. With this in mind, we’ve made a difficult business decision: We’re ready to finish development here and move on to bigger and better ventures.
We realize that this will come as a shock to many of our fans. Please, forgive us. Again, it’s been an excruciating call to make, but it’s been made a bit easier by our satisfaction with the previous and final release, v3.6. We’ve spent six years polishing Project M, and rather than let it drag on through another several years of dwindling development and change-fatigue in the competitive circle, we’re going to consider our work complete.
In the mean time, we plan to be hard at work on new projects, built from the ground up. We can’t spill the beans just yet, but know that we’re looking towards a fresh start with brand new designs. Rather than splitting our focus, many of us want to dedicate ourselves to this new venture fully. In this way, we hope to maintain the level of quality and professionalism you’ve come to expect from us.
In summary, we are ceasing development of Project M (effective immediately) and will be making no further releases as we turn our attention towards an entirely new venture. As the PMDev team will be formally disbanded, please forward all official communications regarding Project M to video game attorney and business consultant . We appreciate your support and your understanding.
