{"rewrite":{"id":"r_55217917b6069e1091e63f74","clusterId":"c_4d8f757ca7678a06f6a4cf3b","slug":"io-interactive-acquires-full-ip-rights-for-project-fantasy-after-partner-split","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"IO Interactive Acquires Full IP Rights for Project Fantasy After Partner Split","summary":"IO Interactive has announced it has acquired full ownership of the IP and project rights for Project Fantasy, its online fantasy RPG. The acquisition follows the end of a relationship with an external partner, believed by some media outlets to be Microsoft. The company will continue development and funding, but will close its Istanbul studio and lay off staff as part of a restructuring to focus on core titles.","whyItMatters":"The move secures IO Interactive's control over its next major original IP, but the studio closure and layoffs highlight the cost of refocusing on core projects.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eIO Interactive has taken full ownership of the Project Fantasy IP and project rights, the studio announced on July 7, 2026. The move comes after the end of a relationship with an external partner, which overseas media reports identify as Microsoft. The company says it will continue development and funding of the online fantasy RPG, first announced in 2023, but will close its Istanbul studio and begin layoffs as part of a restructuring. The studio states that it needs to find a new balance, concentrating on its core internal titles rather than external projects or mobile spin-offs, to ensure long-term survival as an independent AAA developer and publisher. The announcement ends with a statement that the team is fully committed to the project and cannot wait to show it.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"IO Interactive has acquired full IP rights for Project Fantasy after ending a partnership (rumored to be Microsoft). Development continues, but the Istanbul studio is closing and staff are being laid off as the company refocuses on core titles.","twitterPost":"IO Interactive now owns full rights to Project Fantasy after parting ways with an external partner (reportedly Microsoft). Development continues, but Istanbul studio closes and staff are laid off as the studio refocuses on core projects.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"IO Interactive has acquired full ownership of the Project Fantasy IP after ending a partnership with an external partner, believed to be Microsoft. The studio will continue development but is closing its Istanbul studio and laying off staff as it refocuses on core titles.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/07/168956.html\",\"title\":\"IO Interactive、開発中のオンラインRPG「Project Fantasy」のIP取得-外部パートナーとの関係終了に伴い\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":5048,"outputTokens":1508,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1783439559,"createdAt":"2026-07-07T15:47:17.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-07T15:48:32.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-07T15:47:17.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_4d8f757ca7678a06f6a4cf3b","canonicalTitle":"IO Interactive、開発中のオンラインRPG「Project Fantasy」のIP取得―外部パートナーとの関係終了に伴い","representativeArticleId":"a_df3c9e6b439eddb78a2b62f6","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Project Fantasy\"],\"studios\":[\"IO Interactive\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"business\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-07T14:24:07.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-07T14:24:07.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-07T15:48:32.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/07/168956.html","title":"IO Interactive、開発中のオンラインRPG「Project Fantasy」のIP取得―外部パートナーとの関係終了に伴い"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Project Fantasy"],"studios":["IO Interactive"],"people":[],"type":"business","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}