38 Studios is officially on its way to Rhode Island. After a rather controversial few months of dealing with criticism over the multimillion dollar loan deal that persuaded 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling to make the move, it seems that the studio has made its decision and finally settled on a new location. One Empire Plaza in downtown Providence, Rhode Island will soon be the new home for the developer. 38 Studios has leased a six-story 104,000-square-foot building to convert into its new home. The new location is expected to employ a base of 450 employees by 2012 and help secure tens of millions in loans to aid in the development of its upcoming MMORPG currently codenamed Project Copernicus and its upcoming RPG, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

“The staff at 38 Studios is incredibly excited about our relocation to Providence and we expect to be the first of many relocating knowledge-economy companies that will take advantage of the opportunities Rhode Island provides,” said Jen MacLean, Chief Executive Officer of 38 Studios. “Providence has some of the best students in the nation, a vibrant arts community, and a dynamic urban environment with easy access to public transportation. We look forward to working closely with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and local businesses in the months ahead to plan how our company’s growth can also benefit the state of Rhode Island.”