Canceling A Titanfall Extraction Shooter Might Have Been For The Best

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It seems that Respawn Entertainment is facing difficulties launching projects other than Apex Legends and Star Wars: Jedi. However, there’s a possibility, just a possibility, that they might have successfully avoided a problematic situation by cancelling the Titanfall extractor shooter project.

Back on April 29, Respawn Entertainment made an announcement about layoffs that are expected to affect their future operations. As a consequence of these cuts, they’ve decided to shelve two ongoing projects within their incubation division.

A subsequent report by Jason Schreier provided some insights into the situation, revealing that approximately 300 to 400 Electronic Arts (EA) employees were let go, with around 100 coming from Respawn. Among the scrapped projects was a shooter game based on extraction, which was in its early stages of development and linked to the Titanfall universe.

Pursuing trends can be quite challenging, but having a solid long-term strategy and a unique perspective that sets your project apart can make it a rewarding venture. For instance, Respawn Entertainment found success with Apex Legends when they entered the battle royale scene in 2019, offering a refreshing alternative to a market saturated by titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty Blackout (which later became Warzone), and PUBG.

Starting without a clear strategy from the outset can lead to a spectacular failure like Radical Heights, the controversial battle royale game developed by Cliff Bleszinski’s studio, Boss Key. Launched in 2018 in a hasty and unfinished state, the developers attempted to salvage their reputation by labeling it as a product in “Extreme Early Access.

Investing heavily in an extraction shooter game is problematic for several reasons, primarily because there isn’t a proven mainstream market for it yet. Unlike popular first-person shooter (FPS) games, extraction shooters have remained a niche genre that mainly appeals to dedicated gamers. As of now, AAA developers haven’t been able to create an engaging project that can expand the popularity of this genre beyond its current player base.

the fate of Marathon remains uncertain for now.

Considering the tepid response, EA might have decided against pursuing a Titanfall extraction shooter project, as investing resources early on in an idea that might later need to be abandoned could lead to unnecessary costs. This is a common practice among studios when they reassess projects based on initial feedback.

In July 2024, news emerged that Riot Games had scrapped a platform fighter game resembling Super Smash Bros Melee, which was designed primarily for competitive rather than casual gamers, following the disappointing performance of Warner Bros’ MultiVersus in leveraging its initial popularity.

As a die-hard fan, I must admit that the reasons behind the cancellation of Titanfall’s Extraction shooter remain a mystery. It seems that Respawn Entertainment is grappling with defining their future beyond nurturing Apex Legends and delving into the Star Wars: Jedi series.

Instead of continuing with a project that might lead to discarding their developers after failure, as is common with some profit-driven executives who view them as expendable labor, it may have been the wisest decision for EA not to proceed with the extraction shooter game.

It’s distressing to witness layoffs affecting so many gifted individuals due to poor leadership decisions. However, recognizing the possibility of a disastrous collapse that might erase an extraordinary studio from our landscape altogether, I understand the choice we must make.

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2025-04-30 09:12