Studios Behind the Game Dordogne Close as Development Costs Were Not Covered

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It has been confirmed on social media that the studios Umanimation and Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, which worked on the narrative adventure game Dordogne, have closed. On Monday, Aymeric Castaing, the founder of Umanimation, announced the closure via LinkedIn: “No revenue from our game. No contract for the next one. No investors. Game over.” This decision followed the dissolution of MOCA SAS, the legal entity that managed Umanimation.

Yes, @UMANIMATION1 and @studio_jnsq are closing their doors, but creativity does not disappear.
I (Cedric) am already working on new projects that I will announce in a few months on this thread and on my personal account.
Don’t unsubscribe! 🙏

— Dordogne 🎨 OUT NOW 🖌 Un Je Ne Sais Quoi (@studio_jnsq) March 10, 2025

Umanimation was founded with the goal of creating stories that spanned various media. Their best-known project, Dordogne, was released in June 2023 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. The game follows Mimi, a 32-year-old woman exploring her deceased grandmother’s house in the picturesque Dordogne region of France, while uncovering memories and family secrets. The game was notable for its hand-painted watercolor style that faithfully conveyed the region’s landscapes, along with a touching story about family and nostalgia.

Despite positive reviews and winning the award for visual excellence at the French Pégases Awards 2024, Dordogne failed to attract a wide enough audience to cover development costs or ensure the studios’ financial stability. Rising development costs, market saturation, and changes in player preferences are common problems. For Dordogne, its niche focus on narrative and aesthetics, rather than mainstream genres, may have limited its appeal to a broader audience.

The fate of Dordogne remains unclear. Publisher Focus Entertainment may retain the IP rights, opening the possibility for ports to other platforms, sequels, or other forms of utilization, although there are no official announcements. For the team members, like Castaing, the opportunity arises to join other studios or start new projects, given their proven talent.