WarCry has word that Ubisoft and Stray Bullet Games are planning a full server wipe to take clear of nagging problems with Shadowbane.

The Shadowbane Team decided that it would be best for the longevity of the game to reset all server and character data and start from scratch. By doing so, the game benefits in a variety of ways. First, we feel the community will be better served by being more consolidated and less fragmented. Second, resetting the game removes items that have accumulated over the years that have caused imbalances to the game. In addition, numerous updates and enhancements have been made to the Shadowbane service to improve the performance. Some of the changes were not as effective due to preexisting data and resetting the service will allow the servers to work under optimal conditions. Finally, this update also gives us a chance to address certain game issues.

The Shadowbane site has a new video on customising the GUI...head over for details and the direct links.

Ashen Temper has penned a new State of Shadowbane:

Normally, we try to present the State of Shadowbane as a quarterly update to let everyone know what is going on with the game we all love. But, as we can all no doubt attest, these last couple of months have been anything but normal. The last State of Shadowbane brought everyone up to date with current events, especially as they pertain to our studio and to the game. Enough of the present; now I want to talk a little about the future.

FiringSquad has <a href="http://www.firingsquad.com/news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=11318" target="_blank">spoken</a> to Sean Dahlberg about Shadowbane and Stray Bullet Studios:<blockquote><em><b>FiringSquad: How did the decision come about to form a new studio to continue supporting Shadowbane?</b><br><br>Sean Dahlberg: We have a great team here; wea "!ve got solid experience developing and supporting MMOs, wea "!ve got multiple shipped products, and wea "!ve been working together for years. From the moment we heard the news, we started talking about possible ways to keep the team together.<br><br>Initially, Shadowbane was not a part of that equation. While we wanted to keep the game alive, we wanted to preserve the studio and its pool of talent and experience more than anything else. It is very rare to find such a team that meshes so well together and has the drive, experience, and personality as Stray Bullet Games now has. We had a few loses but the majority of developers from Wolfpack Studios made the transition to the new company. </em></blockquote>

Gamasutra catches up with the former developers of Shadowbane at Stray Bullet Games.

The decision to shutter Wolfpack Studios came as a surprise to most of those working there. When Ubisoft made the announcement on April 1 that the Austin, Texas-based developer of Shadowbane had six weeks of life left, community manager Sean Dahlberg said he wasn't sure right away if it was an April Fool's joke.

It wasn't. Just a month past Shadowbane's third birthday, and two years and change since Wolfpack's acquisition by Ubisoft in February 2004, the publisher had apparently decided to refocus on its console offerings. After a disappointing launch and two expansion packs, Shadowbane seemed like a low priority.

More...

Ashen Temper has posted an open letter on the State of Shadowbane at the official site and revealing a new dev company called 'Stray Bullet Games' rising from the remnants of Wolfpack. Here's a partial snip:

It has been quite a while since the last State of Shadowbane address, and if there was ever a time we desperately needed one, this is it.

If you are just tuning in, let me begin by officially stating that Shadowbane lives on!

There was a time there when the doomsayers were legion, prospects looked bleak, and the Twilight of Aerynth's Gods looked nigh. But the community spoke. The powers that be listened. Shadowbane survives!

All is not as it was, however; there have been some changes. Key developers from Wolfpack Studios have come together to form an independent development company called Stray Bullet Games, LLC. Stray Bullet Games is helping Ubisoft keep Shadowbane alive and well.

Many familiar faces over here that still work on Shadowbane, and in recent days you've seen us on the forums; Ben, Dave, Kellion, Meridian, and Nazgul are all still devoted to the game. We have lost Sachant, be we've picked up a new member on the Community Team for Shadowbane. Many of you may know Jinx as a member of the Frag Dolls and a Community Manager on Red Steel, but she is also a long-time member of the Shadowbane Community. Veterans of the game may recall her as Valkyrie from the Shadowbane Sanctum fan site and as Feyair of the original Bard and Herald program.

And then, of course, there is myself. I will be not only working on the Community Team but I have also taken on the role as leading up the design efforts for Shadowbane. I definitely have some big shoes to fill looking back at those who held the position previously.