Respawn Entertainment Halts Development on New Unannounced Multiplayer FPS

Recent Developments at Respawn Entertainment: Another Project Canceled

Respawn Entertainment has recently put the brakes on yet another gaming project, as revealed through a LinkedIn post by Emilee Evans, a former Executive Assistant and Production Coordinator at the studio. Emilee announced, “The unannounced incubation project I was a part of for the past year was canceled this week, so I am joining the group of extremely talented and kind people in the games industry searching for a new role” (as reported by The Game Post).

Insights into the Canceled Project

While details of the canceled project remain sparse, it appears to fit into the realm of multiplayer first-person shooters. The ongoing recruitment for the Incubation Team has focused on candidates with substantial experience in designing multiplayer FPS games, indicating a strong likelihood that this unannounced title would have followed that format. This aligns well with Respawn’s legacy, built on hits like Titanfall and Apex Legends.

The Titanfall Franchise: A Shifting Landscape

Although speculation persists regarding the potential for a new installment in the Titanfall series, industry insider Jeff Grubb mentioned last year that Respawn was indeed working on something related to the franchise. This recent cancellation marks the second known setback regarding new content for Titanfall, following the discontinuation of the single-player Titanfall Legends project in early 2023.

Broader Context: Previous Cancellations and Future Projects

In a notable trend, Respawn’s parent company, Electronic Arts (EA), made headlines earlier when it scrapped another multiplayer shooter based in the Star Wars universe. EA CEO Andrew Wilson commented on the high costs associated with licensed intellectual properties, reinforcing a strategic shift away from them. However, this rationale does not seem to apply to potential future iterations of Titanfall.

Current Endeavors at Respawn

Currently, Respawn is dedicated to completing the third installment of the Star Wars Jedi series. Furthermore, they are collaborating with Bit Reactor on an upcoming tactical strategy game inspired by the XCOM series. In a June 2024 conversation with PC Gamer, a representative from Bit Reactor shared: “Respawn really treats us like an internal team. They’ve been really good to us. They encourage collaboration and communication between teams. And so they’ve been just flat out the best experience I’ve ever had in publishing. They trust us to make the kind of game we know how to make.”

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