Supermassive Cancels Unannounced Blade Runner Game

The Cancellation of Supermassive Games’ Blade Runner Title

Recently, Insider Gaming reported that Supermassive Games, a game development studio based in Guildford, has decided to cancel an unannounced title inspired by the iconic Blade Runner franchise.

About the Game: Blade Runner: Time To Live

Codenamed Blade Runner: Time To Live, this project was envisioned as a “character-driven, cinematic action-adventure game”set in a compelling future world of 2065. The game aimed to combine the rich philosophical narratives of the Blade Runner universe with dynamic gameplay, estimated to last between 10 and 12 hours.

Development Timeline and Team

Pre-production on Blade Runner: Time To Live commenced in September 2024, led by the same team responsible for The Quarry. The completion of pre-production was slated for March 2025, with further prototyping scheduled to finish about six months later.

Platform and Budget Insights

The game was poised for a tentative launch in September 2027 on major platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with indications of branching out to future generations of consoles. However, given the typical advancement cycles of gaming hardware, it’s unlikely that Supermassive had definitive insights into future console releases from Sony and Microsoft.

As for investments, the proposed budget for this ambitious project was approximately $45 million. Notably, around $9 million was dedicated to securing external performance capture and voice acting talent, while additional funds would be needed for music production, rights management, quality assurance, localization, and prospective downloadable content (DLC).

Gameplay Concepts

In the storyline, players would take on the role of So-Lange, a replicant who embarks on a mission in New Zurich to confront a menacing leader of an underground replicant organization named Rev. This narrative takes a dramatic turn as So-Lange faces betrayal, ultimately finding themselves in perilous circumstances. Players would also have the ability to enhance their skills and abilities throughout their journey, promising an enriching gameplay experience.

Unfolding Events and Future Possibilities

While the specific reasons for the cancellation remain somewhat ambiguous, reports suggest that Alcon, the owner of the Blade Runner IP, played a significant role in this decision. This development leaves fans longing for what could have been, especially given Supermassive Games’ ability to craft compelling narrative experiences within established universes.

Despite this setback, the world of Blade Runner continues to captivate, with other projects such as Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth currently in the works under Annapurna Interactive since 2022.

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