Piranha Bytes and JoWooD Go Separate Ways

Piranha Bytes/Pluto 13 GmbH has issued a statement announcing that all Gothic-related negotations with JoWooD have ceased, which casts a dark shadow over the long-awaited Gothic 3 patch and future Gothic installments. A rough translation:
Piranha Bytes and JoWooD go separate ways

Essen, 22.05.2007; After the final failure of the negotiations over a continuation of the GOTHIC ® series, Piranha Bytes is forced to orient itself otherwise. Which titles in more near future under the name GOTHIC are published, is at present completely unclear. Since November 2006 the negotiations did not lead at the end to a result acceptable for both sides. Piranha Bytes cannot continue with the community's often expressed desires for content changes in a future patch any longer. It was intended to make this patch available as a by-product during the development of an add-on or future installment (providing it a free download and including it with the boxes of said products).