Sonyhas been on a canceling spree lately with its slate of live-service projects. FromThe Last of Us Onlineto aGod of Warspin-off developed by Bluepoint,Sonyappears to be rethinking its once-ambitious live-service goals. It’s sad to see so many projects get shut down, but this may also mark a return to Sony’s strengths with single-player narratives. The company and its various studios are in a tricky situation right now, with many wondering what the future holds.
While some now-canceled live-service projects were surprising, others sounded quite promising. One of the most intriguing projects Sony shut down wasa live-serviceTwisted Metalspin-off. Live-service fatigue is completely understandable, butTwisted Metalis a franchise that could have worked really well with this approach. Even if a live-serviceTwisted Metalnever sees the light of day, a new entry in the franchise is a must.
Twisted Metal Deserves to Be Brought Back From the Ashes
Everything Known About the Canceled Live-Service Twisted Metal Game
According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, theTwisted Metalspin-off was in such early stages that it hadn’t even technically been approved for full production yet. It seems as though it was merely in its conception stages, so there’s no way to know if the game would have ever even made it across the finish line in the first place. However,anotherTwisted Metalgameis long overdue, especially now that Peacock has its live-action counterpart gearing up for a second season.
Twisted Metal is Back in Pop Culture
A few days ago, Peacock dropped a trailer forthe second season ofTwisted Metal, marking a return to the pop culture landscape. With its arrival, more interest in theTwisted Metalfranchise as a whole will hopefully be reignited. The first season of the Peacock series premiered to mostly positive reviews. It didn’t garner the same hype as other recent live-action video game adaptations, like HBO’sThe Last of Usor Amazon Prime’sFallout, but it offered a strong start that ultimately got it renewed. A second season is a promising sign for the entire franchise, though. It shows that there is still interest in the unique vehicular combat IP.
The last entry in the series was 2012’sTwisted Metal.
From longtime fans to newcomers who had never playedTwisted Metalbefore watching the series, it could be the perfect time for a fresh take on the franchise. Since the last entry in the series, gaming has witnessed a mind-blowing level of evolution. Graphics, storytelling, and gameplay design have been improved to far greater levels since 2012, andTwisted Metaldeserves to be showcased with modern development.Twisted Metalremains a staple in the early PlayStation roster, and many fans have been waiting to see what a brand-new entry would look like on hardware as powerful as the PS5.
Despite a Live-Service Cancelation, There is Still Hope for Twisted Metal
With Sony potentially going back to the drawing board, it’s possible that a freshTwisted Metalentry could happen in the future. This remains to be seen, but a franchise comeback is not off the table. The live-action series proves thatthere is still an audience forTwisted Metal, and that will hopefully bleed back over into gaming.
After the failure ofConcordlast year, Sony has been doubling down on live-service cancelations.
It’s unfortunate that Firesprite’sTwisted Metalproject didn’t get a chance to shine, but a reboot or single-player entry hopefully waits on the horizon. As of now,the future ofTwisted Metalcan only be speculated on, but season 2 of Peacock’s series demonstrates that there still might be a silver lining.
