Exciting yet disappointing news for fans of the iconic vehicular combat series, Twisted Metal. Recent leaks have unveiled images from a canceled project known as Project Copper, developed by Firesprite, a studio under Sony's wing. These images, shared by a former UI developer on their online portfolio, suggest that the game was envisioned as a thrilling blend of the series' traditional vehicular combat with modern battle royale elements. Although the images were blurred and marked "Under NDA," they provided a glimpse into what could have been an innovative live-service title.
Project Copper was described as a "third-person vehicular action combat game" rooted in a classic PlayStation IP, developed by Firesprite. The game intended to merge third-person shooter mechanics with vehicle combat, with the ultimate goal of being the last player standing, as reported by MP1st. Unfortunately, Sony decided to cancel this ambitious project amid widespread layoffs announced in February 2024. At the time of cancellation, the game had not yet been greenlit, but it was clear that Firesprite, based in the UK, was hit hard by the cuts.
The decision to pull the plug on Twisted Metal reflects a broader shift at Sony away from live service games. This strategic pivot followed a significant internal push toward developing such games. For instance, Naughty Dog halted development on The Last of Us Online in December 2023, citing the need for extensive resources for post-launch content that would have compromised their ability to create future single-player experiences.
While some live service titles like Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 achieved remarkable success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks and becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game to date, others like Sony’s hero shooter Concord faced catastrophic failure. Concord was shut down after only a few weeks due to dismal player engagement, marking a significant setback for Sony. Additionally, in January, Sony canceled two more unannounced live service games, one from Bluepoint working on a God of War title, and another from Bend Studio, the team behind Days Gone.
Though the future of the Twisted Metal game series looks uncertain, fans can take solace in the continuation of the Twisted Metal TV series on Peacock, which stars Anthony Mackie. The first season received an 8/10 from IGN, praised as "a miraculously enjoyable blend of comedy, violence, and thoughtfulness," despite its occasional overuse of humor.
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