Atari dismisses Turbine lawsuit as "frivolous"

Atari has moved to dismiss the lawsuit filed against it by Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach developer Turbine, claiming the studio still has contractual obligations to fulfil, and it's legal proceedings will harm the success of the game.

Turbine is seeking USD 30 million, claiming Atari has failed to promote and market the game, has hampered sales in Europe, and left Turbine with publishing duties once released.

"Last week, with no warning, Turbine filed what can only be viewed as a frivolous lawsuit against Atari," said the publisher in a statement. "This action can ultimately do a great disservice to D&D fans and to the MMO community at large. Turbine's actions also appear intended to divert attention from the contractual obligations that Turbine owes to Atari."

"In response, today Atari served a motion to dismiss the entirety of Turbine's lawsuit. Atari also filed a separate complaint to recover monies owed to Atari resulting from an independent third party audit of Turbine."

Turbine has also suggested Atari intends to break its contract with the developer – currently in place until 2016 – in order to make way for an internally-developed MMO from new team Cryptic Studios, which it acquired late last year.

Atari disputes the claims, adding that, "while Atari hopes for a quick and fair resolution, it remains fully committed to the D&D communities worldwide and will vigorously protect the franchise and its own integrity in this matter."