Key Takeaways
1. Microsoft canceled several major projects, impacting Romero Games and their unnamed first-person shooter.
2. Despite the cancellation, John Romero’s team is seeking new funding and has found a way to continue the project.
3. The original FPS has been reimagined as a smaller indie game, moving away from AAA aspirations.
4. The new game will be a single-player FPS, focusing on innovative mechanics and repurposing assets from the canceled project.
5. Romero believes the gameplay will offer a unique experience, similar to the adventure of playing Elden Ring.
Earlier this year, Microsoft made the decision to cancel several major projects and close down various studios. One of the affected was Romero Games, which was working on an unnamed first-person shooter. Thankfully, John Romero, co-creator of Doom and founder of the studio, shared that his project has evolved into something akin to Elden Ring.
Development Journey
Romero Games’ first-person shooter, backed by Microsoft, had been in the works for several years. The team, consisting of 110 dedicated members, invested their time into what Romero described as a “huge game,” with around $50 million put into its development. However, Microsoft decided to halt support due to restructuring plans earlier this year.
A New Direction
Despite the challenges, Romero’s FPS project is still alive. Speaking at the Salon del Videojuego de Madrid recently, he revealed that the studio is actively seeking new funding, even in the face of workforce reductions.
Romero confirmed that they have found a way to move forward, but he has kept details about the funding and publisher under wraps. A representative from the studio commented, “We decline to reveal any details about funding or publishing at the time.”
Innovative Changes
Romero explained that the original shooter has been reimagined as a smaller indie project, stepping away from its AAA aspirations for something fresh and innovative.
He noted during the panel:
“We survived the cancellation of a huge game. A dedicated team of 110 has been working on this daily for years. The game has been completely redesigned. The new project is different from the previous version but includes several elements from it.”
So, we’re not starting from scratch. With $50 million worth of assets, we can repurpose pieces into a new indie game.
Currently, the game is confirmed to be a single-player FPS, without any co-op or multiplayer options. The main focus will be on introducing new mechanics that Romero believes will be a refreshing change.
Romero also mentioned, “I’ve never experienced a game like it before, apart from it being a shooter. The gameplay will likely feel new to people, similar to how playing Elden Ring was a unique adventure.”
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