Game Development Halted: People Can Fly Cancels Projects
Recent news indicates that game development studio People Can Fly, known for titles like Outriders, has suspended development on two projects, Gemini and Bifrost, leading to potential job losses.
The Polish studio's CEO, Sebastian Wojciechowski, announced the difficult decision, citing issues with a publisher and a lack of funding as the primary reasons for halting work on the two games. "Today we made a very difficult decision to suspend the development of project Gemini and project Bifrost — the relevant current reports have been released to the market," Wojciechowski stated.
Specifically, the suspension of Project Gemini stems from the publisher's failure to provide a content rider outlining terms for future milestones, coupled with a "lack of communication" regarding their intent to continue or terminate the project. This lack of clarity created significant uncertainty for People Can Fly.
Project Bifrost's suspension is attributed to both the aforementioned publisher issues and an analysis of the studio's cash flow, which revealed limited prospects for securing the resources needed for continued production and release. The combination of these factors made the project unsustainable.
The CEO expressed deep regret over the situation, acknowledging the impact on the studio's teams. "As a result, we have to significantly regroup as a studio and scale down our teams, which hurts the most. We wish to express our deepest regret and sadness over how these events have unfolded and our sincere gratitude for everyone's contribution up to this point."
Publisher Issues and Financial Constraints in Game Development
While the statement didn't explicitly name the publisher involved in Project Gemini, information from the developer's website confirms the partnership with Square Enix. Bifrost, on the other hand, was intended to be a self-published title. Square Enix has yet to issue a statement regarding the situation.
This is not the first instance of People Can Fly scaling down development efforts. The studio previously laid off 120 employees at the end of last year, indicating ongoing challenges within the company. This makes the current situation even more concerning for the future of the studio.
People Can Fly is currently involved in other projects, including Project Echo and Delta with Krafton and Sony, respectively, as well as Gears of War: E-Day with Microsoft. These collaborations suggest the studio is still actively pursuing new opportunities despite the setbacks.
Their most recent release is Bullestorm VR, a virtual reality adaptation of the classic shooter for Meta Quest and PSVR 2. This demonstrates their continued commitment to innovation and adaptation in the evolving gaming landscape.
What impact will these game development project cancellations have on the wider industry? Will this lead to more indie developers struggling to find funding and support?
The Future of People Can Fly and Independent Game Development
The cancellation of Project Gemini and Project Bifrost raises questions about the challenges faced by independent game development studios in securing funding and maintaining strong relationships with publishers. The lack of clear communication and financial constraints can have a devastating impact on these studios, leading to job losses and project suspensions.
The studio's ongoing collaborations with Krafton, Sony, and Microsoft provide a glimmer of hope for the future. These partnerships suggest that People Can Fly still possesses the talent and expertise to contribute to successful gaming projects. However, the studio will need to carefully navigate the challenges ahead to ensure its long-term survival.
What strategies can smaller studios employ to mitigate these risks and foster more sustainable partnerships with publishers?
In conclusion, the suspension of Project Gemini and Project Bifrost highlights the precarious nature of game development, particularly for independent studios. The combination of publisher communication issues and financial constraints can create significant hurdles. The ability to adapt, innovate, and forge strong partnerships will be crucial for People Can Fly and other studios navigating this challenging landscape.