Supermassive Games, known for creating gripping horror experiences such as Until Dawn, The Quarry, and The Dark Pictures anthology series, has reportedly halted development on an unannounced project tied to the iconic Blade Runner universe. According to Insider Gaming, the studio was crafting a narrative-driven, cinematic action-adventure game titled "Blade Runner: Time To Live," set in the year 2065. The game centered around the last remaining Blade Runner, a vintage Nexus-6 model named So-Lange, tasked with the mission to retire the head of an underground replicant network. The plot thickens as So-Lange faces betrayal and abandonment in a harsh environment, with gameplay mechanics encompassing stealth, combat, exploration, investigation, and compelling character interactions.
Insider Gaming disclosed that "Blade Runner: Time To Live" was backed by a substantial development budget of around $45 million, with $9 million specifically allocated for external performance capture and acting talent. The game was expected to offer a 10-12 hour single-player experience, with pre-production kicking off in September 2024, aiming for a September 2027 release on PC and both current and next-gen consoles. However, the project reportedly collapsed due to issues with Alcon Entertainment, the rights holder for the Blade Runner franchise, leading to its cancellation late last year.
In other Blade Runner gaming news, publisher Annapurna Interactive announced in the summer of 2023 their venture into developing their first in-house game, "Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth," marking the first Blade Runner game in 25 years. However, there have been no further updates or sightings of this project since its initial reveal.
Amidst this, Supermassive Games has been busy with multiple projects, including the upcoming addition to the Dark Pictures series titled "Directive 8020," and working on "Little Nightmares 3." The studio faced challenges last year, announcing layoffs affecting approximately 90 employees, as reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, during a time described as a "period of consultation."
On a brighter note, fans of Supermassive's work can look forward to the cinematic adaptation of "Until Dawn," hitting theaters this weekend. For those interested, you can read our review of David F. Sanberg's take on bringing "Until Dawn" to the big screen.
