I was getting nervous there, but Rise of Nations developer Big Huge Games has been acquired by 38 Studios. BHG was originally taken in by THQ but following some financial hardships, THQ put the studio back on sale in March saying that they would have to close BHG if they could not find a buyer within 60 days.

38 Studios was founded in 2006 by Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling, named after Curt's jersey number. Their first title is codenamed Copernicus, an MMOG scheduled for a 2010 release. 38 is based in Maynard, Massachusetts, but BHG will remain in Timonium, Maryland.

Quoted from Press Release:

Maynard, MA, May 27, 2009 – 38 Studios (www.38studios.com, an entertainment and original IP creation company, today announced the acquisition of Big Huge Games (BHG) from publisher THQ Inc. The acquisition is a critical step in 38 Studios’ strategy to deliver a broad range of entertainment products centered on its original fantasy IP, codenamed Copernicus. The purchase of Big Huge Games includes all of the company’s proprietary IP, tools, technology, assets, and works-in-progress. Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Big Huge Games was founded in 2000 by veteran game developers Brian Reynolds, Jason Coleman, Dave Inscore, and Tim Train. Award-winning lead designer Ken Rolston, a 25-year role-playing game designer and co-creator of Oblivion and Morrowind, is another vital and dynamic component in BHG’s success. Big Huge Games has developed top-selling games including Rise of Nationsâ, and was built with the same talent that created Alpha Centauri, and Civilization II. Big Huge Games is currently developing an unnamed RPG title for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC.

“The acquisition of Big Huge Games will be tremendously beneficial to the growth, market position, financial stability, and long-term success of 38 Studios,” said Brett Close, CEO and President, 38 Studios. “BHG’s cross-platform RTS/RPG engine will accelerate the realization of our Online Entertainment ExperienceÔ for the Copernicus IP. The acquisition enables us to develop and deliver top-quality games in multiple genres that are based in a shared world, ultimately maximizing the value of our Copernicus MMOG and the intellectual property as a whole.”

Looking forward to what they will produce. Hopefully they will keep working on Ascendent, if that's the "unnamed" RPG mentioned in the press release.

Best of luck!