"Next-Gen Blade Runner Game Scrapped by Until Dawn Studio"

Supermassive Games, known for their gripping horror titles like Until Dawn, The Quarry, and the Dark Pictures anthology, has reportedly halted development on an unannounced game set in the iconic Blade Runner universe. According to Insider Gaming, the project, titled "Blade Runner: Time To Live," was envisioned as a "character-focused, cinematic, action-adventure" experience. Set in 2065, the game would have followed the journey of So-Lange, a vintage Nexus-6 model and the last Blade Runner, tasked with retiring the leader of an underground replicant network. Betrayed and left for dead, So-Lange's story would unfold through a mix of stealth, combat, exploration, investigation, and intense character interactions.

Insider Gaming disclosed that Blade Runner: Time To Live was backed by a substantial budget of approximately $45 million, with $9 million allocated specifically for external performance capture and acting talent. The game was set to feature a 10-12 hour single-player narrative, with pre-production kicking off in September 2024 and a planned release in September 2027 across PC and both current and next-generation consoles. However, the project reportedly collapsed due to complications with Alcon Entertainment, the rights holder for the Blade Runner franchise, leading to its cancellation late last year.

In a related development, publisher Annapurna Interactive announced in the summer of 2023 their intention to develop "Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth," marking the first Blade Runner game in 25 years. However, there has been no further news or updates on this project since its initial announcement.

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

On a brighter note, fans of Supermassive can look forward to the cinematic adaptation of Until Dawn hitting theaters this weekend. For more details, check out our review of David F. Sandberg's take on Until Dawn for the big screen.