Following the reveal of a major game, social-networking websites are buzzing with excitement, as gamers spend weeks, months, and sometimes even years waiting for screenshots, interviews, teaser trailers and gameplay videos to trickle into the public before the game’s highly anticipated launch.
Unfortunately, not all video games that are announced see the light of day, despite months of rumours and speculation. Here are ten video games that were cruelly taken away from us:
B.C.
Platforms: Xbox
Developer: Intrepid Computer Entertainment
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Action Adventure
First announced in 2001, B.C. was an action-adventure title that took place during the prehistoric era. The story followed a small, player-controlled tribe on the brink of extinction, which was required to evolve, migrate and survive against dinosaurs, simians and other prehistoric beasts in order to be the most dominant species on the planet.
Several months after the first trailer was released in late 2004, Microsoft announced that the title was cancelled. Speaking to VG24/7, video gamer designer Peter Molyneux said that the studio behind the title had chosen to focus on a lesser-known series called Fable. Molyneux added: “We couldn’t do both simultaneously: it was just impossible for us to do that and maintain any quality at all.”
Fez 2
Platforms: N/A
Developer: Polytron Corporation
Publishers: Microsoft Studios, Polytron Corporation, Trapdoor
Genre: Puzzle Platformer
In 2012, Fez was subject to high praise from critics and gamers alike when it was released on the Xbox 360. The indie 2D puzzle platformer challenges players to solve puzzles while rotating between four sides of the game’s 3D world. Its success lead to the title being ported to the PC and PlayStation (3, 4 & Vita).
A sequel was unveiled in June 2014 during Horizon Conference – an independent game conference. However, the game’s lead designer, Phil Fish, took to Twitter a month later to announce the cancellation of Fez 2, following a series of abuse he had received.
Gotham by Gaslight
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Developer: Day 1 Studios
Publisher: N/A
Genre: Action Adventure
Around the same time, Rocksteady Studios released Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009), Day 1 Studios (the team behind F.E.A.R.) were also working on a video game starring the Dark Knight himself.
Based on the one-shot comic of the same name, Gotham by Gaslight was set at the end of the 19th century, where Batman was tracking down Jack the Ripper. Day 1 Studios pitched the idea to publisher THQ although, after an unsuccessful pitch, Gotham by Gaslight was canned.
Rainbow Six: Patriots
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developer(s): Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Red Storm, Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Tactical Shooter
Ubisoft prematurely announced Rainbow Six: Patriots in November 2011, although a spanner was thrown into the works a few months later when creative director David Sears, narrative director Richard Rouse III, lead designer Philippe Therien, and animation director Brent George were all removed from the development team.
Despite the setback, Ubisoft announced that the game was still in development during the publisher’s E3 2013 conference, adding that it would be available on next-generation consoles. The following year, the studio revealed that Patriots and its concept were being scrapped in favour of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (released in October 2015).
Silent Hills
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One (rumoured)
Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Survival Horror
In August 2014, Silent Hills was announced through P.T. – a playable teaser for the latest instalment in the Silent Hills series, which was being directed by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro, with the main protagonist being portrayed by Norman Reedus (of The Walking Dead). It all looked so promising.
Nevertheless, Konami confirmed that it had terminated its plans to develop the game. In a statement issued in April 2015, the publisher said: “Konami is committed to new Silent Hill titles, however, the embryonic Silent Hills project developed with Guillermo del Toro and featuring the likeness of Norman Reedus will not be continued.”
Star Wars 1313
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: LucasArts
Genre: Action Adventure
According to the game’s developer, Star Wars 1313 was an action-adventure title that would take a more mature, gritty direction compared to previous Star Wars video games. The plot revolved around Boba Fett in his early adulthood, navigating past the scum of civilization in an underground area of Coruscant known as Level 1313, and fulfilling his destiny as a full-fledged bounty hunter like his father.
On Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013, Walt Disney Company announced that it would be closing down LucasArts and that internal development had ceased on all of its projects, including Star Wars 1313. Representatives for the company indicated that the game may be revived through a licensing deal with an outside studio, although this looked doubtful considering the trademark for Star Wars 1313 was not renewed at the end of the year.
Star Wars: Battlefront 3
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Developer: Free Radical Design
Publisher: LucasArts
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Despite never being officially announced, there were strong rumours to suggest Star Wars: Battlefront 3 was in development and, sure enough, the game’s developer, Free Radical Design, confirmed that it had been in development since 2006.
Several years later, Free Radical Design’s co-founder, Steve Ellis, said that the game was “pretty much done”, but had effectively been cancelled by the publisher as they were not willing to “spend big” on the title’s marketing. The rights to Star Wars: Battlefront were later transferred to EA and DICE, who is launching the reboot in November 2015.
Streets of Rage
Platforms: N/A
Developer: Ruffian Games
Publisher: N/A
Genre: Beat ‘Em Up
In May 2012, Ruffian Games (the studio behind Crackdown 2) revealed they were working on a remake of Streets of Rage – the 16-bit beat ‘em up. According to the studio, the game was built in six to eight weeks by a “small pitching team”, though was later scrapped for unknown reasons.
This Is Vegas
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Developer: Surreal Software
Publisher(s): Midway Games/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action Adventure
In February 2008, Midway Games announced that This Is Vegas was in development at the Surreal Software studio, alongside a trailer for the game. Despite the title being scheduled for Q4 2008, This Is Vegas was delayed due to the studio’s financial difficulties.
During Midway Games’ bankruptcy proceedings the following year, the company sold the majority of its assets to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, including This Is Vegas. The publisher announced in 2010 that they had cancelled development on the game entirely, despite spending an estimated $40 million on its production.
Timesplitters 4
Platforms: N/A
Developer: Crytek UK
Publisher: N/A
Genre: First-Person Shooter
The development of Timesplitters 4 has been on and off more times than the kettle in the office, although it all looked so promising at the outset, with Free Radical Design releasing concept art which spoofed titles such as Gears of War, Halo and BioShock. Nevertheless, the game faced an uncertain future when the studio when into administration in December 2008.
After years of rumours and speculation, lead programmer Tristan Reidford revealed that Timesplitters 4 has been indefinitely postponed. Speaking to Cinema Blend, he said: “Future Perfect didn’t perform as well as expected in the shops. Although fun to make, without stellar sales figures, a further TimeSplitters game was going to be a tough one to sell to publishers.”
