370°

Take-Two’s 2K Cancels $53 Million Game From Hangar 13

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.’s 2K Games has canceled an unannounced project from developer Hangar 13, according to people familiar with the decision.

The company, in its earnings statement Wednesday, said it had taken a charge of $53 million, for ending “further development of an unannounced title in its pipeline.”

The project, which was code-named Volt, had gone through multiple iterations since it was first conceived. The current version struggled due to reboots, technological hiccups and challenges caused by Covid-19, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

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bloomberg.com
porkChop1333d ago

Cthulhu meets Saints Row? That sounds like a very odd pairing.

Magog1332d ago

So what is going to happen to Hanger 13? Will they be shut down?

VersusDMC1332d ago

At worst they will become a GTA support studio.

Magog1332d ago

A fate worse than death. The only thing worse is becoming a Call of Duty support studio.

Deeeeznuuuts1332d ago

A fate worse than death?
I'd be honoured to work on one of the best video game series of all time.

Sure it's nowhere near as good as the team coming together to create a project of their own but working on the GTA series would be awesome.

1nsomniac1332d ago

“Would of been awesome” when they were a decent developer. Rockstar are no longer the GTA devs they used to be. They’ve fallen a long way.

Magog1332d ago

Being a GTA support dev means creating neon pimp clothes for GTA Online these days

1331d ago
lelo2play1332d ago

$53 Million is chump change for Take-Two.

MadLad1332d ago

These guys really can't catch a break. They put out quality time and again, but their only real breakout was Surge 2.
Now they have a project straight up cancelled.

They're not long for a studio, I feel.

Magog1332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

Wrong studio. The only other game Hanger 13 made was Mafia 3.

seanpitt231332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

Yeah it was a new formed studio to work on Maria 3 and we all know how that went.. it was mediocre at best so this does not surprise me.. T2 probably had playable testers in to see how the project was going and thought nah let’s cancel it and cut our losses while we still can..

MadLad1332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

Yup.
My bad.

I was thinking Deck 13.

On that note, while I didn't hate it. It had a lot going for it with the overall story, but Mafia 3 was pretty subpar. Some of the worst ai I've experienced in some time.

porkChop1332d ago

They also developed the excellent Mafia 1 remake.

RaidenBlack1332d ago

Hangar 13 is responsible for Mafia III and Mafia 1 Remake.

Christopher1332d ago

Mafia 1 Remake was great.

Dandizzle1332d ago

I worked on this project "volt" and "Rhapsody" as well as mafia 3. Trust me volt was a horrible idea that played horribly and had terrible concepts. Rhapsody had great concept but never got far past the initial proving stages.

Little bit of inside knowledge, hangar 13 had more producers than engineers or QA.
While Haden was a nice guy with great ideas, the studio has been mismanaged since the start.

Dandizzle1332d ago

Last time I saw it, even at early stages it was cringe indusing.

Dandizzle1332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

It had some very strange ideas from the start and was generally more focused on reimaginign a convoluted narrative before gameplay concepts where iorned out.

RaidenBlack1332d ago

Wait ... Didn't you say a few months ago you have worked on multiplayer shooters?

Dandizzle1332d ago

Didn't say that, but once upon a time I worked on a mp shooter.

sourOG1332d ago

Is that common these days in the game production space? The whole management issue? It seems many keep buying planes without the pilots. Like that new MS studio calling on square for help.

cbuc11251332d ago

I applaud your work on Mafia III. I completed it and loved every minute.

Dandizzle1332d ago

Really glad you liked it, the entire team and myself worked and crunched very hard to make that game and all the dlcs. Bunch of super smart and talented folks at Hangar 13 and I really hope they don't get shut down or hit with anymore layoffs.

brewin1331d ago

I know Mafia 3 gets a lot of hate but I absolutely loved that game! So what happens to hangar 13 now? Is there anything salvageable from the development of volt project? Like any assets artwork gameplay ideas etc? Seems like they would try to salvage something for all the money that was paid. I'd love for them to make Mafia 4 and have it next gen only

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1331d ago
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100°

While Layoffs Hit the Industry, Nintendo Retains 98% of Staff Including 78 With Disabilities

TNS: Based on its most recent ESG data, Nintendo boasts a remarkably low staff turnover rate of just 1.9%, with virtually no reported layoffs.

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thenerdstash.com
Jin_Sakai10h ago

Because Nintendo makes great games.

8h ago
rlow18h ago

Well it doesn’t surprise me. As much money as they make and how they value their employees. It’s a great company in that regard.

Xeus76h ago

Good guy Nintendo
Microsoft and Sony are the bad guys

drivxr4h ago

Well, when your games remain full price many years after release.

And you make profit off of outdated hardware.

I would be shocked if they couldn't afford to retain their staff.

lodossrage2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

I didn't want to say anything but drivxr is right.

Nintendo always sells at a profit because they purposely use tech that's always 5 or more years behind. And it's also true their games hardly ever get price decreases.

Don't get me wrong, it's great they kept most of their workforce, but making a point to have your tech specs behind everyone else affords that luxury.

Shane Kim9m ago(Edited 9m ago)

If they ended up kicking people out after all of that stated above, it would be truly shameful.

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170°

It Shouldn't Take Expedition 33's Success to Remind Square Enix That Turn-Based Still Sells

TNS: Expedition 33 was the wake-up call Square Enix needed, telling it turn-based RPGs are still popular, but that shouldn't have been the case.

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thenerdstash.com
Relientk772d ago

True, but if it does get it through their thick skulls, then that works.

Although, the Dragon Quest 1 + 2 HD remakes will be turn-based and (the worst kept secret) Final Fantasy IX remake should be turn-based I would imagine. Let's see if any newer games go turn-based too.

thorstein2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

DQIII HD Remake was turned based and very successful. Then there was a really obscure turn based game came Balder's Gate 3. I heard it might have done well.

Profchaos2d ago

I wouldn't be shocked if they switched ff to the vii remake combat system

PapaBop2d ago

It won't get through to them though, despite E33's success, they still won't risk going fully turn based for their big budget projects simply because they are still in the mindset that it needs to be action combat to appeal to the mainstream audience. I hope I'm wrong but don't underestimate just how stubborn Japanese execs can be

barom2d ago

Ya'll are hyping up Expedition 33 too much. Reminder that FF XVI sold 3 million in a week and it took Expedition 33 approximately a month to get to that (33 days to reach 3.3 million).

thorstein1d 21h ago

New IP vs established IP.

barom1d 13h ago

1 platform vs 3 platforms
1 week vs 1 month

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DivineHand1252d ago

While it is true that Sqaure Enix has moved away from turn based games compared to how they were in the past, there is a good reason for it.

Older gamers will know this but during the ps2 era, we were flooded with turned based games from Japanese studios and this created a form of fatigue back then going into the next generation.

When Square released FF13, they received heavy criticism for making the game turned based like every other FF game and not doing enough to innovate. This is why they made FF15, FF7 Remake and FF16 have real time combat. It gave the series a fresh spin and has brought in new fans to the series.

I personally would be happy with either turned based FF or the real-time combat version we see today.

Shane Kim2d ago

Remake and Rebirth have "turn based" if you set it in the settings.

Lexreborn22d ago

Dang wish I saw your post before I made mine because we definitely feel the same way lol

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Yeah hit the nail on the head but its like ww2 games we get hundreds of them then a decade of nothing and people start missing them i think we're going to start seeing them return

Claire, dragon quest even yakuza have seen turn based return

Runechaz1d 19h ago

Every Pokémon game is also a Turn Base RPG.. and selling millions

andy852d ago

Only need to look at their own game DQ 11 approaching 10 million to show there's a market. And that's not as big of a name as FF

Runechaz1d 19h ago

you can also look at the Pokemon game number

Tacoboto2d ago

Another article about Expedition 33 and Square Enix and turn-based games? This is starting to sound like propaganda.

The game didn't sell because it's a turn-based game; it sold and is enjoyed because it's a really freaking good game that released completed at a good price without gamer drama attached to it. No Mtx, no wait-until-it's-patched, minimal bloat, a self-contained story, no multiplatform BS. Just a solid original game that absolutely nails what it intended to do.

Redemption-642d ago

I was just about to say the same thing.

anast2d ago

This comment should have a 100 upvotes, at least.

CrimsonWing692d ago

Maybe try actually listening to the fans who have supported the series for decades. This habit of ignoring your core audience just to chase people who were never interested in Final Fantasy in the first place makes no sense. And when that approach fails, doubling down on it is beyond baffling.

The battle system has never been the main reason non-FF or non-JRPG players stayed away. Gutting the series’ identity to chase a broader market doesn’t attract new players. It just alienates the loyal ones.

Keep going down this road and we’ll end up with Final Fantasy Fortnite abomination or a F2P Battle Royale game.. Oh wait…

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50°

Rematch is "chasing credibility" but not realism like rival EA FC

Pocket Tactics sits down with Rematch’s creative director, Pierre Tarno, to discuss why Sloclap moved away from Sifu to chase something new.

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pockettactics.com