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[Nibel]

Independent development studio Darkside Games, which was working on the planned reboot of the cult classic Phantom Dust, shut down this afternoon in the wake of news that Microsoft had cancelled their version of the game, Kotaku has learned.

Microsoft, however, says they're still working on the upcoming Xbox One reboot.

"Microsoft partnered with Darkside Game Studios in the development of 'Phantom Dust,' but our working relationship has now ended," a Microsoft spokesperson said. "We have great respect for their studio and their work in the industry. While we do not have anything new to share on 'Phantom Dust' at this time, we can confirm that development of the title continues. We look forward to sharing more details on the game as we get closer to release."

More here at the source (Kotaku).

 

[Rogue_Ledr]

So 2020 then?

Seriously, just kill it. No point in even bothering.

 

[jbug617]

Guess they didn't like the direction the game was taken with that studio.

 

[Mengetsu]

Like a Phantom in the Dust....

 

[Nirolak]

Well that's always encouraging.

 

[darkside31337]

Well that stinks

 

[Pennywise]

They shouldn't have revealed it so early from the beginning.


As long as they found another decent dev, everything is fine.

 

[Steverulez]

Interesting but also a strange situation. Perhaps they found someone they thought would do better with it, not happy with their work?

I can't say i'd ever heard of the studio though tbh, didn't even know they were working on it

 

[Oregano]

So Grounding wasn't working on it then? I wonder what they have been up to?

 

[SFenton]

We didn't see anything from the game besides a CG trailer anyways. Could have been a mess.

Better this than a ridiculed release.

 

[Pankratous]

Sounds like they didn't the direction they were taking at all.

 

[Stare-Bear]

At least you still get apps in the summer...

 

[snarge]

Darkside had job postings as recent as last month:

http://www.darksidegames.com/?p=jobs

Looks like the studio was betting on Phantom Dust, and something obviously went wrong.

Sad to hear, hope the guys at Darkside recover quickly.

 

[xxracerxx]

So back to the drawing board? See you in 2019 game.

 

[Haines]

Another example of games being announced way to early.

 

[EBE]

i didnt even know they had a team working on it? id not heard the name Darkside Games

 

[2thepoint]

 

[Haunted]

The Last Phantom Dust

 

[VinFTW]

At least you still get apps in the summer...

what does this even mean?

 

[mnannola]

Phantom Dust, exclusively for the Xbox Two

 

[chadskin]

"The executives who saw it were impressed and as late as this morning gave our team every indication that the project was on solid ground," said one of those people, who requested anonymity while speaking with Kotaku because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the situation. "Yet we got the phone call today that someone up on high who in all likelihood wasn't even aware of the game in detail shut it down."

Damn. :/

 

[NotLiquid]

Well that's... huh.

That's not very reassuring, especially for the excitement expressed.

 

[RoboPlato]

I didn't even know we knew who was making this game. MS always seemed to dodge the question.

 

[shwimpy]

They are rebooting the reboot? Will still come out before Last Guardian.

 

[pastrami]

Microsoft really jumped the gun when revealing this game.

 

[Vazra]

SMH why?

 

[Rogue_Ledr]

Personally, I saw this coming.

IMO MS isn't really committed to 1st Party Development beyond Halo and a few others.

I wouldn't be surprised if Crackdown follows a similar path.

 

[Freeman]

They shouldn't have revealed it so early from the beginning.


As long as they found another decent dev, everything is fine.

They were smart to show what they had. Its another game on the horizon, better than nothing. It serves to gage how much interest the it in a game and to give it a chance to not be cancelled.

The prime example of this is TLG for Sony, it might lead to frustration but in the end it gives the game much more attention and possible more sales. If TLG was never shown it would have been cancelled by now.

 

[FATALITY]

Another example of games being announced way to early.

yeah this shit is annoying. i wish sony and MS would stop measuring cocks and release the games that were announced in past to years.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

"The executives who saw it were impressed and as late as this morning gave our team every indication that the project was on solid ground," said one of those people, who requested anonymity while speaking with Kotaku because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the situation. "Yet we got the phone call today that someone up on high who in all likelihood wasn't even aware of the game in detail shut it down."

If this is true, it speaks to some HUGE managerial problems.

 

[2thepoint]

At least you still get apps in the summer...

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

That's not nice, if what happened is true.

 

[Ambition]

Wow, that's really disappointing.

 

[GeoramA]

That sucks. Wonder what happened? Wait...nevermind. I'd rather not hear another depressing behind-the-scenes game developer story.

 

[Pie and Beans]

"Yet we got the phone call today that someone up on high who in all likelihood wasn't even aware of the game in detail shut it down."

Good ol' Microsoft. Talks the talk, then some random exec swings in and reminds everyone what a renowned clusterfuck the company is for project/team killing.

 

[x24hrs2livex]

So what MS owned studio is going to take over development?

 

[Haunted]

If this is true, it speaks to some HUGE managerial problems.

Well, we are talking about Microsoft here.

 

[xxracerxx]

So what MS owned studio is going to take over development?

Rare of course.

 

[Ascenion]

So probably not a 2016 title anymore. Well then. Hope all the devs land on their feet. Sad to see things like this happen.

 

[Creaking]

Dang, what a blow. I guess they did only show that CG trailer. Sorry for those who are eagerly anticipating this one, but at least it's still coming.

 

[Rogue_Ledr]

Rare of course.

PHANTOM DUST KINECT CONFIRMED!

 

[Stare-Bear]

what does this even mean?

That Microsoft doesn't have the luxury to close production on exclusive games. Its a stale year for Microsoft regarding 1st party games. (Halo 5 won't be out this year, I mean really). Then there's QB which we haven't seen much of.

 

[alterno69]

Microsoft to stop production of the Xbox One by the end of 2015 confirmed

Spoiler

duh

 

[bananafactory]

Rare of course.

Didn't Phil say Rare is currently working on something already?

 

[def sim]

That's an awful way to be let go. I wish them the best.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Dang, what a blow. I guess they did only show that CG trailer. Sorry for those who are eagerly anticipating this one, but at least it's still coming.

I wouldn't necessarily count on it coming any longer.

I know they say it is and that Microsoft is doing it internally, but that sounds like the kind of thing you'd say just before quietly cancelling it.

 

[x24hrs2livex]

what does this even mean?

Probably alluding to universal apps coming this summer

 

[Hasney]

So if they're still working on it and taking it in house, it's at least a couple of years away.

On the plus side, there might be one or two price cuts before I want to get an XB1 by then, assuming it turns out alright. It's never promising to hear this.

 

[loaf of bread]

Maybe they were making it like the first game with the cards but MS realized that it was super niche and they need more exclusives so now it's going to be a third person action game

It's probably just canceled though

 

[labaronx]

If this is true, it speaks to some HUGE managerial problems.

Well that sucks