New images of Sony's canceled Twisted Metal game have surfaced online, suggesting developer Firesprite was creating a live-service title merging the franchise's signature vehicular combat with battle royale elements. A former Firesprite UI developer posted blurred screenshots to their online portfolio, labeled "Under NDA" but identified under the codename "Project Copper," believed to be the internal name for the unannounced game.
Firesprite described Project Copper as a "third-person vehicular action combat game based on a classic IP owned by PlayStation," featuring "third-person shooter mechanics wrapped with third-person vehicle combat with the objective of being the last one standing." This confirms the blend of vehicular combat and battle royale mechanics hinted at by the leaked images.
Sony's cancellation of Twisted Metal, reportedly part of February 2024 layoffs, occurred before the game received full approval. The UK studio Firesprite, where development took place, was impacted by these cuts.
The cancellation aligns with Sony's apparent retreat from live-service games following a significant internal push in that direction. The failure of Concord, a PlayStation Studios live-service hero shooter, and the halting of The Last of Us Online development by Naughty Dog, highlight the challenges faced in this sector. While Helldivers 2 proved a notable success, the setbacks experienced with other live-service titles likely influenced Sony's decision. In January, Sony also canceled two other unannounced live-service games, one a God of War title and the other from Bend Studio.
Despite the game's cancellation, fans can still look forward to the Twisted Metal TV series, with Season 2 set for release on Peacock. IGN's review of Season 1 awarded it an 8/10, praising its "miraculously enjoyable blend of comedy, violence, and thoughtfulness."
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