Sometime in 2023, Sony planned to release a live service reboot of the Twisted Metal video game, which was one of the most well-received games of the franchise on the PlayStation 2. The game was really popular among players who were into the Vehicular Combat genre. 29 years later, and we still have players relieving the gameplay and all the characters. Sweet Tooth and his gang of asylum escapees were the most unique and popular characters of this genre, leading the race with their exciting gameplay. However, this new release met its end when Sony decided to scrap the development of the game in February 2024.
Widespread Critical Acclaim
Before these recent events, Twisted Metal Black was a popular racing game that went through a significant transformation and received widespread critical acclaim. The game’s developer, Incognito Entertainment, created a fresh and memorable experience by switching to a darker, more brutal tone which brought in more of the game players.
In this scary and dark world players had to destroy other vehicles to survive. The game had many different characters, each with their own story and reasons for being in the deadly tournament run by Calypso. The characters, ranging from innocent victims to bloodthirsty monsters, are hard to forget, and this helped carve out a strong niche in the market.
Players could choose from a variety of vehicles, such as trucks and sports cars, that were all equipped with powerful weapons. They had to use their skills and strategy to win battles in different arenas.
The single-player campaign was very interesting and revealed the dark pasts of each character through cutscenes and missions. As players progressed, they discovered more about the tournament and faced tougher challenges. The game also had a multiplayer mode where players could compete against each other in different maps.
The multiplayer mode added even more excitement to the game. Players could either work together or fight against each other in intense battles. The game was well-liked for its exciting gameplay, unique characters, and interesting storyline. It became a classic and is still popular among gamers today. The reviews that came in highly praised the gameplay.
Sony Cancels Live Service Reboot of “Twisted Metal” Video Game Franchise
In a recent announcement, Sony has canceled several games that were in development, including the long-awaited “Twisted Metal” and Sony London’s planned live service title. This announcement comes after the outgoing exec Jim Ryan’s note to staff about the layoff of about 8% of PlayStation’s global workforce. According to Bloomberg, the title was one of several that have been canceled, and British game developer Firesprite was one of the companies impacted by the layoffs. Firesprite was working on the title which was in early development and had not been greenlit yet.
Head of PlayStation Studios, Hermen Hulst, has revealed that the company has decided to pull the plug on these games due to the oversaturation of the market for live service games. These games are designed to be monetized over a long time but have seen numerous high-profile flops in recent times.
Sony had previously invested heavily in the games as a service model, but the company’s recent decision indicates a shift in its strategy. Even the success stories of live service games have been few and far between, with unexpected hits like Sony’s “Helldivers 2” facing server capacity issues due to its popularity.
Fans of the franchise were disappointed by the news as the original game, released in 1995, was a popular title on the original PlayStation console. Sony has not commented on the decision to cancel the reboot or the layoffs.
Revived and Available to Play
All hope isn’t lost for players of this game, as they can still play this game on their PS2 and PS4. Originally released on PlayStation2, the game was updated with 1080p up-rendering and Trophies for the PS4 system. Twisted Metal Black for PS4 offers enhanced graphics, Shareplay, Remote Play, Activity Feeds, and Second Screen support for game manuals with PS Vita or PS App. Players can now experience the ultimate contest of wreckage and devastation as Calypso plucks a motley crew of contestants straight from the lunatic asylum. As the carnage unfolds, so does the horrifying tale behind each of these tortured souls.
Fans of the original game are undoubtedly excited to see this classic title brought back to life with updated graphics and new features. Twisted Metal Black for PS4 is now available on the PlayStation Store. To play Twisted Metal Black game on PS5, your system may need to be updated to the latest system software. Although this game is playable on PS5, some features available on PS4 may be absent.
