A recent report has revealed that People Can Fly, the Polish developer behind Outriders, was working on a sequel, tentatively named Project Gemini. Unfortunately, the studio was forced to cancel this project along with another title during significant layoffs.
The news comes after the studio had to scrap several in-development ventures, indicating a tough period for People Can Fly. Outriders was launched in 2021 as a co-op looter shooter that mixed fast-paced gunplay with RPG elements.
It garnered impressive engagement initially, attracting 3.5 million players in its first month. However, it faced backlash due to technical issues at launch, a limited endgame loop, and inconsistent live-service support.
This led many to label it one of the most disappointing games of 2021 despite having a dedicated fanbase that hoped for improvements in a potential sequel. According to a report by Thumb Wars, Project Gemini was reportedly close to completion before its cancellation, a decision attributed to a lack of communication from its publisher, believed to be Square Enix.
This situation leaves fans wondering what prompted such a sudden change, especially since the game seemed to be advancing well. In addition to Project Gemini, the studio also canceled another project known as Project Bifrost, which purportedly aimed to be a live-service game based on a new intellectual property.
However, insiders revealed that Project Bifrost lacked originality and met with little excitement within the studio, making its cancellation not particularly shocking. Overall, the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the Outriders sequel raise intriguing questions about the expectations on franchises in this evolving gaming landscape.
Fans and industry observers alike are left speculating on the future of People Can Fly and the Outriders franchise.