The world of gaming is no stranger to unexpected twists. But this new one is a hard hitter for PlayStation fans who are still reeling from the cancellation of The Last of Us Online. The once-promised PS4-exclusive WiLD which was first announced in 2014 has officially been shelved.
The game was intended to be an ambitious open-world survival game, offering a vast map comparable to the size of Europe, where players could control both prehistoric humans and animals.
The Last of Us is The Least of Our Worries With This News
WiLD was the brainchild of Michel Ancel, the legendary game designer behind Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil. When the game was announced at Gamescom in 2014, it was met with great enthusiasm. The concept was groundbreaking: a survival game set in the Neolithic era where players could not only control humans but also animals.
However, despite the initial excitement, it faced a troubled development process that spanned nearly ten years. A situation that is rare but not unheard of. The game’s progress was slow, and updates were few and far between. Although a few trailers and bits of concept art were released, the lack of concrete information led many to believe that the project was in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, all we can say is that we are no longer actively working on it.
— Steven ter Heide (@StevenTerHeide1) July 31, 2024
The final nail in the coffin has finally been delivered now in 2024. Steven ter Heide, the creative director at Wild Sheep Studio, recently confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that WiLD was no longer in active development. This revelation has ended years of speculation and all hope for everyone who was following the game’s development and eager for its release.
How Many More Games Have to Die Like This?
The cancellation of WiLD is a reminder of the volatile nature of game development. Even the most promising projects can fall victim to unforeseen challenges. In the case of this game, the departure of its visionary leader and the studio’s struggles to maintain momentum ultimately led to its downfall.
This is not just a loss for eager fans but also for the platform. The game could’ve been a key title in the PlayStation exclusive lineup. Especially with the unique premise that the game initially showed. Unfortunately, WiLD now joins the ranks of other ambitious projects that never saw the light of day.
No way they cancelled it, that’s pretty wild.
— Timo (@TimooMMA) August 8, 2024
The story of this ambitious title also raises questions about the challenges of developing large-scale, innovative games in today’s industry. The game’s lengthy and troubled development highlights the difficulties that even experienced developers can face when attempting to create something truly groundbreaking.
The pressure to innovate and create something new can often lead to lengthy development cycles, and not all projects survive the journey. While the cancellation of The Last of Us Online was certainly a blow, this is an even bigger ‘what could’ve been’.
Have you heard of this title? If so, were you waiting for its release? Let us know in the comments!
