firehawk12
Subete no aware
Wait, did that moba game even come out?
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RIP United Front Games
- Thread starter bishoptl
- Start date
It hit Steam Early Access recently.
Ghostmaster
Member
It didn't do well enough.
Such a shame, Sleeping Dogs was a great game, hope everyone lands on their feet.
Hell, now I'm even worried for the Deus Ex studio.
Square probably paid for one years worth of development time in return for the IP. True Crime/Sleeping Dogs was in development for 5 years.
Plus a sequel which would be technically more demanding would cost a lot more and there wasn't a guarantee there were enough SD fans. There's been a big problem in the developers space between AAA and indie because games are really technically demanding graphically and many talented mid tier devs go out of business.
They had a very rough beta and then had to immediately go to early access because they clearly had no money to run the studio.
The game actually wasn't that bad, but it clearly needed at least six more months in the oven before even considering early access.
No doubt, but it even got a current generation release, so it's not like it's completely faded into obscurity since 2012. I would argue a sequel to it would have been safer bet than launching another all new IP, but oh well.
But you're missing the point. Like they invested all of this time, development and money into it, and they didn't really come out with much that was special.
Deus Ex Mankind Divided seemed to struggle to get attention because it looks like the same game with a different environment, with some upgraded visuals/gameplay.
Unless this other sequel they're planning is fantastic instead, I don't see how it was a particularly good investment for them.
And when was the last time SE launched a major new IP?
I have a ton of affection for Sleepy Dogs, but a sequel would have absolutely been a very big financial gamble for SE.
Just heard the news. Worked there for many years. All the people at UFG were great and I have some of my fondest memories of working on games with the people there. I still do lunch with them every couple weeks too.
My condolences to everyone there and I will sorely miss UFG.
This sucks
My condolences to everyone there and I will sorely miss UFG.
This sucks
It didn't do well according to Square Enix unrealistic expectation.
I just have the feeling that Square Enix expect their children studios to cover their ass-blasted main studio that run like shit due to their own incompetence at management.
EstoyBlackWaldo
Member
Such a shame, I hope everyone affected can find employment asap. I really did enjoy Sleeping Dogs and wish they developed a sequel, not everything goes as planned, the studio was made up of really talented folk.
CaptainofIndustry
Member
Dammit. Love sleeping Dogs. Nothing like dressing up in. Swat team uniform and drop kicking random strangers on the street. Thank you United Front Games for everything. I wish all the employees the best.
I would say that 2008's The Last Remnant was their last notable try, but that felt somewhat budgety.
We might have to go back to Drakengard in 2003 or Kingdom Hearts in 2002 for something with a budget not completely out of sync with the average major game of the era.
Sleeping Dogs was the only city sandbox game I enjoyed playing after GTA:SA. It still remains my favorite and nothing as surpassed it in my eyes. The shame about all this is most people in this thread and elsewhere won't get another chance to play smash and grab. It was really shaping up to be something special.
Yep. SE is not a publisher very interested in risk...although honestly few are today.
Jason Frost
Member
Instead of the Big Boss Salute:
The Scollard
Member
Noooooooooooooooooo. I loved Sleeping Dogs. It was such a fun game. This is awful to hear. Hope everyone gets out okay.
Xamtheking
Member
Damn.
Hope everyone gets out alright.
Pork bun salute.
Hope everyone gets out alright.
Pork bun salute.
dancingphlower
Member
Damn, this is awful news, best of wishes to everyone at the studio. Looks like it's time to replay Sleeping Dogs in their honor.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
So is that game basically dead now?
chrominance
Member
Shit, man.
I'll raise a pork bun in remembrance. Taken from us too soon, United Front. Good luck to everyone fresh out of a job there.
I'll raise a pork bun in remembrance. Taken from us too soon, United Front. Good luck to everyone fresh out of a job there.
LurkerPrime
Member
Bummer. Sleeping Dogs is a great game... I'll never understand why they never made a direct sequel. Or rather, why United Front Games was never given another shot at it; it was certainly a better use of money than Triad Wars.
I guess they were really betting the farm on Smash & Grab, since it came out, like, a week or two ago. Curious if they'll be offering refunds for their customers or if everyone is outta luck, or whether there's plans to hand it to another dev, or what.
Edit: Oh and of course, RIP to the studio! I hope all of them find work.
I guess they were really betting the farm on Smash & Grab, since it came out, like, a week or two ago. Curious if they'll be offering refunds for their customers or if everyone is outta luck, or whether there's plans to hand it to another dev, or what.
Edit: Oh and of course, RIP to the studio! I hope all of them find work.
Yeah, presumably.
I'm 98%+ sure that was also the game Nexon was publishing from them, but it got dropped, and they had to immediately try to self publish it.
A shame. I presume Disney killing Infinity also hurted their health and led to this
Yeah, that was a stable source of work.
RIP
Without SE the game, initially True Crime, would have just remained canceled from Activison. We can thank them for at least giving the game a chance and providing United Front the funds to finish their game. The game failing sales expectations comes from a variety of factors, it being a new open world IP in a market where AAA open world games cost a shit ton to make being one of them.
Without SE the game, initially True Crime, would have just remained canceled from Activison. We can thank them for at least giving the game a chance and providing United Front the funds to finish their game. The game failing sales expectations comes from a variety of factors, it being a new open world IP in a market where AAA open world games cost a shit ton to make being one of them.
saveweyard
Banned
Damn, just saw the news. Sleeping Dogs was a true gem. Best of luck to all affected.
strikeselect
You like me, you really really like me!
Sleeping Dogs was an amazing game. Sad to hear this news Hope they all land on their feet
Hope they all land on their feetAtanascovich
Member
NO WEI!
Sleeping Dogs was really good. But since then they have not released nothing big
Sleeping Dogs was really good. But since then they have not released nothing big
Some Nobody
Junior Member
First game sold two million copies. I don't see the sequel selling less at all, so why are we making excuses for SE?
The problematic assumption you're making here is that this would be profitable.