"Next-Gen Blade Runner Game by Until Dawn Studio Reportedly Canceled"

Supermassive Games, renowned for crafting immersive horror experiences such as Until Dawn, The Quarry, and the gripping Dark Pictures anthology series, has reportedly halted development on an unannounced Blade Runner game. According to Insider Gaming, the studio was working on a project titled "Blade Runner: Time To Live," a character-driven, cinematic action-adventure set in the year 2065. The game was to feature a compelling narrative centered around So-Lange, a vintage Nexus-6 model tasked with retiring the head of an underground replicant network. After a betrayal that leaves her for dead in a harsh environment, So-Lange's journey would have encompassed elements of stealth, combat, exploration, investigation, and dramatic character interactions.

Insider Gaming reported that the budget for Blade Runner: Time To Live was approximately $45 million, with $9 million specifically allocated for external performance capture and acting talent. The game was planned to offer a 10-12 hour single-player experience, with pre-production starting in September 2024 and a targeted release date of September 2027 on PC and both current and next-generation consoles. However, the project reportedly fell apart due to complications with Alcon Entertainment, the rights holder for Blade Runner, leading to its cancellation late last year.

In other Blade Runner gaming news, publisher Annapurna Interactive announced in the summer of 2023 that it was developing its first in-house game, "Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth," marking the first Blade Runner game in 25 years. Since the announcement, there have been no further updates on this project.

Amidst these developments, Supermassive Games has been busy with multiple projects, including the upcoming entry in the Dark Pictures series, Directive 8020, and work on Little Nightmares 3. The studio faced challenges last year, announcing layoffs affecting around 90 employees, as reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, during a "period of consultation."

On a brighter note, fans of Supermassive's work can look forward to the theatrical release of the Until Dawn movie this weekend. For those interested, you can read our review of David F. Sandberg's adaptation of Until Dawn for the big screen [ttpp].