A Cult-Classic Open-World Game was a Single Vote Away From Getting its Sequel
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Loading... - Edrice Sabry
- 27 Jun 2024
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Red Faction: Guerilla Sequel Misses Greenlight by a Single Vote
The cult-classic open-world game Red Faction: Guerilla was tantalizingly close to receiving a sequel, narrowly missing approval by a single executive vote. This project, championed by the Hamburg-based studio Fishlabs, was ultimately canceled, leading to the studio's closure—a disheartening tale common in the gaming industry.
According to an investigation by Rock Paper Shotgun, Fishlabs pitched the sequel multiple times to executives at its parent company Plaion late last year. While the initial reception was positive, an unnamed group of executives from Plaion and the Swedish holdings company Embracer Group spiked the project. This cancellation is among many resulting from a failed multibillion-dollar deal between Embracer Group and a Saudi investor.
The original Red Faction: Guerilla (2009) featured Alec Mason, a mining engineer turned rebel after his brother's murder by a fascist corporation. The game was beloved for its destructible environments and open-ended missions, allowing players to complete objectives creatively using mines, vehicles, and Mason's signature sledgehammer.
Although Red Faction: Armageddon (2011) followed, it deviated from its predecessor's open-world charm, opting for a more linear third-person shooter experience.
Fishlabs aimed to blend the best elements of both games for the canceled sequel. Set on Mars 100 years after the original, the game would have introduced a new female lead, leading the Red Faction rebellion, recruiting new members, and fighting oppressive forces.
The timing felt apt for some Fishlabs employees, who saw parallels between their struggles and the game's themes of resistance against corporate oppression. This sentiment grew as Embracer Group laid off thousands of employees, including the entire team at Volition, the developers of the original Red Faction: Guerilla.
Despite internal divisions, Fishlabs proceeded with the pitch, culminating in a mid-November presentation to Plaion executives. The developers created a mock trailer using Unreal Engine 5, which Plaion executives reportedly loved, expressing confidence that the game would be greenlit.
However, on November 20, 2023, the project was canceled after an internal vote at Fishlabs' publishers resulted in a tie. The decision led to layoffs of around 50 employees, reducing Fishlabs to a support role for other Embracer projects.
This outcome is a significant blow to fans eager for a sequel to Red Faction: Guerilla, a game that was both technically impressive and immensely fun. Modern hardware could have expanded on its innovative destructible environments and gameplay mechanics.
The cancellation is another frustrating chapter in Embracer Group's turbulent recent history. The company acquired numerous valuable IPs, including the rights to The Lord of the Rings franchise, and game developers like Eidos Montreal, Gearbox, and Volition. However, Embracer overextended itself without securing sufficient funding. When Savvy Games Group, a Saudi-owned investment firm, withdrew from a $2 billion investment deal, Embracer was forced to downsize, closing studios and laying off over 4,500 employees. The company continues to struggle, recently shutting down Pieces Interaction, the team behind the upcoming Alone In The Dark game.
