It was one of multiple successors to PDP-10 that tried to capitalize on existing user base after Digital decided to utterly cancel all 36bit work in favour of VAX (legends claim the last prototype ended up in millpond).

Some started even earlier, trying to compete on speed or other attributes (like Foonly)

System Concepts is the ones who ended up with CompuServe as client/effective owner from my memory. XKL was somewhat successful to the point they are the reason why last known PDP-10 was made after closure of last VAX manufacturing line, but nearly all of their systems was for internal use in their network gear