Splash Damage Scraps Transformers: Reactivate After Lengthy Development
After a prolonged and challenging development process, Splash Damage has officially canceled its Transformers: Reactivate project. This news follows a cryptic trailer reveal at The Game Awards 2022, which showcased a 1-4 player online game featuring Autobots and Decepticons uniting against a new alien threat. While the developer, known for its multiplayer expertise on titles like Gears 5 and Batman: Arkham Origins, generated some anticipation, subsequent updates were scarce.
Leaks and early toy releases hinted at a Generation 1 roster including Ironhide, Hot Rod, Starscream, and Soundwave, with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee also rumored. Speculation even included Beast Wars characters, but these possibilities are now defunct.
Splash Damage's announcement confirmed the cancellation and acknowledged the difficult decision, citing potential staff layoffs as the studio refocuses its efforts. The company expressed gratitude to the development team and Hasbro for their support.
Fan reaction has been varied, with some expressing disappointment, while others anticipated the cancellation given the prolonged silence following the initial trailer.
The studio's shift in focus is towards "Project Astrid," a AAA open-world survival game built using Unreal Engine 5, announced in March 2023, and developed in collaboration with streamers Shroud and Sacriel. Resources will be redirected to this project, though the cancellation of Transformers: Reactivate will unfortunately result in job losses. The Transformers franchise, meanwhile, continues its search for a high-profile AAA game.
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Produced By Hasbro and Takara Tomy
