It looks like efforts to keep UK-based Empire Interactive going have been to no avail. Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that company has now gone into administration (the UK's term for bankruptcy) with 49 people laid off as a result.

Rights to properties owned by Empire Interactive have apparently been sold to a US-based company, New World IP, for an undisclosed sum. The company itself will not be sold off and six remaining staff members will work with the group handing the administration to shut down Empire's operations. Empire Interactive was owned by Silverstar Holdings which also owns the PC game publisher Strategy First.