I wonder how the german fans are taking this?

I am disappointed by Jowood and PB.

If they want to break up they should finish their unfinished business - Gothic 3 - first.

I'm a local PB-fan ever since I heard of the development of Gothic 1.
I am living 20 km away from their old base Bochum.

Who can I blame for the Gothic 3 disaster ?

I don't know - I blame all persons who wanted to make a second Morrowind out of Gothic 3. They should have stayed by their old Gothic 1 virtues - small unmistakable world, interesting characters, chapter system leveling and so on.
Developing an engine and a huge game with such a small team was a bit too tough.