The world of video games, especially the part focused on sci-fi adventures and collecting cool gear (often called “looter shooters”), hasn’t seen many big new games pop up recently. While hits like Borderlands and Destiny continue, creating a successful new series is tough. One game that gave it a real shot was Outriders. It had a strong start, but ultimately didn’t become the long-running hit some hoped for. Now, news reveals its planned sequel, Outriders 2, met a surprising and unfortunate end: cancellation, even though it was reportedly very close to being finished.
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This news comes from a recent report indicating that “Project Gemini,” one of two canceled games from developer People Can Fly, was indeed Outriders 2. What makes this particularly hard-hitting is the claim that the game was nearing completion before being suddenly scrapped in early June, alongside layoffs at the studio. For fans and those who saw potential in the first game, it’s a puzzling and disappointing turn of events.
What Happened with Outriders 2?
According to the report, the sequel, codenamed Project Gemini, was deep in development. Imagine a game being built, polished, and almost ready for players to jump into, only for the plug to be pulled unexpectedly. That’s what appears to have happened with Outriders 2. This cancellation wasn’t just a quiet shelving of an early idea; it involved stopping work on a nearly complete project and unfortunately led to job losses for some of the people building it.
What Was the Original Outriders?
Outriders, released in 2021, is a science fiction third-person shooter where players team up to explore a hostile alien planet. It’s part of the looter shooter genre, meaning you defeat enemies, collect increasingly powerful weapons and armor, and customize your character’s abilities.
The first game had some really strong points. Many players praised its combat, which encouraged aggressive, in-your-face fighting rather than hiding behind cover. The loot system also felt rewarding, making it exciting to find new gear that changed how you played.
Title screen for the sci-fi looter shooter game Outriders.
Why Did the First Game Struggle?
Despite its strengths and initial positive reception (publisher Square Enix initially boasted over 3.5 million players and high engagement), Outriders saw a significant drop-off in players fairly quickly. Several factors contributed to this:
- Launch Issues: Like many complex online games, Outriders faced technical problems when it first launched, frustrating early players.
- Endgame Content: While the main story was complete, the content available after finishing the campaign wasn’t fully built out initially, which is crucial for keeping looter shooter players engaged long-term. An expansion later added more, but it didn’t bring back a huge number of players.
- Not a “Live Service”: Perhaps the biggest difference compared to games like Destiny or Warframe is that Outriders wasn’t designed as a “live service” game from the start. It didn’t have ongoing seasonal content, battle passes, or constant microtransactions. While many players prefer buying a complete game upfront, this model often generates less long-term revenue for publishers compared to live service titles.
The Mystery of a Nearly Finished Sequel
Given Square Enix’s initial enthusiasm and the fact a sequel was reportedly nearing completion, the cancellation of Outriders 2 is particularly surprising. It suggests that despite the development progress, the business side determined it wasn’t worth releasing or supporting. This could be due to financial projections based on the first game’s performance trajectory or other internal strategic shifts.
It’s a tough situation for People Can Fly and the players who enjoyed the unique aspects of Outriders. The idea of a promising sequel, especially one so far along in development, being scrapped is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry.
What This Means
For now, it seems the Outriders series might be permanently on hold. While the first game had its flaws, it also innovated in its genre and was genuinely fun for many. The cancellation of Outriders 2, especially so late in development, is a significant blow to both the studio and fans hoping for more adventures on Enoch. It leaves many wondering what could have been with a polished sequel building on the original’s foundation.
