Sony has been on a canceling spree lately with its slate of live-service projects. From The Last of Us Online to a God of War spin-off developed by Bluepoint, Sony appears to be rethinking its once-ambitious live-service goals. It’s sad to see so many projects get shut down, but this may also mark a return to Sony’s strengths with single-player narratives. The company and its various studios are in a tricky situation right now, with many wondering what the future holds.
While some now-canceled live-service projects were surprising, others sounded quite promising. One of the most intriguing projects Sony shut down was a live-service Twisted Metal spin-off. Live-service fatigue is completely understandable, but Twisted Metal is a franchise that could have worked really well with this approach. Even if a live-service Twisted Metal never sees the light of day, a new entry in the franchise is a must.
Related
The Last of Us Online Praised by Former Sony Executive
A renowned former PlayStation executive shares some new details about Naughty Dog’s scrapped The Last of Us Online live-service game.
Everything Known About the Canceled Live-Service Twisted Metal Game
- The project was being developed by Firesprite.
- The game was in its very early stages.
According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, the Twisted Metal spin-off was in such early stages that it hadn’t even technically been approved for full production yet. It seems as though it was merely in its conception stages, so there’s no way to know if the game would have ever even made it across the finish line in the first place. However, another Twisted Metal game is long overdue, especially now that Peacock has its live-action counterpart gearing up for a second season.
Twisted Metal is Back in Pop Culture
- Season 1 of Twisted Metal premiered on July 27, 2023.
- Season 2 of Twisted Metal is set to premiere this summer.
A few days ago, Peacock dropped a trailer for the second season of Twisted Metal, marking a return to the pop culture landscape. With its arrival, more interest in the Twisted Metal franchise as a whole will hopefully be reignited. The first season of the Peacock series premiered to mostly positive reviews. It didn’t garner the same hype as other recent live-action video game adaptations, like HBO’s The Last of Us or Amazon Prime’s Fallout, but it offered a strong start that ultimately got it renewed. A second season is a promising sign for the entire franchise, though. It shows that there is still interest in the unique vehicular combat IP.
The last entry in the series was 2012’s Twisted Metal.
From longtime fans to newcomers who had never played Twisted Metal before watching the series, it could be the perfect time for a fresh take on the franchise. Since the last entry in the series, gaming has witnessed a mind-blowing level of evolution. Graphics, storytelling, and gameplay design have been improved to far greater levels since 2012, and Twisted Metal deserves to be showcased with modern development. Twisted Metal remains a staple in the early PlayStation roster, and many fans have been waiting to see what a brand-new entry would look like on hardware as powerful as the PS5.
Despite a Live-Service Cancelation, There is Still Hope for Twisted Metal
With Sony potentially going back to the drawing board, it’s possible that a fresh Twisted Metal entry could happen in the future. This remains to be seen, but a franchise comeback is not off the table. The live-action series proves that there is still an audience for Twisted Metal, and that will hopefully bleed back over into gaming.
After the failure of Concord last year, Sony has been doubling down on live-service cancelations.
It’s unfortunate that Firesprite’s Twisted Metal project didn’t get a chance to shine, but a reboot or single-player entry hopefully waits on the horizon. As of now, the future of Twisted Metal can only be speculated on, but season 2 of Peacock’s series demonstrates that there still might be a silver lining.
- Released
-
November 5, 1995
- ESRB
-
T For Teen due to Animated Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Sony Interactive Studios America, SingleTrac
- Publisher(s)
-
Sony Computer Entertainment