Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was by all accounts a successful game, selling over 1.22 million copies in under 90 days and earning decent reviews. However, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee said that because the game never exceeded the 3 million mark it needed to break even, it therefore failed.
"The game failed, the game failed," said Chafee at a press conference.
The game's developers, Big Huge Games and 38 Studios, both laid off their entire staffs today because of financial difficulties at 38 Studios. Outlook for the companies have been looking glum ever since 38 Studios announced that it had difficulty paying back a loan it took from the Rhode Island government.
As a result of the company's collapse into insolvency, taxpayers may end up footing a $90M bill.