Beloved PlayStation 2 FPS franchise set for comeback with new entry in development
A beloved PlayStation FPS franchise from the PS2 era could finally be making its long-awaited comeback, with reports suggesting that a new entry may already be in production.
The PlayStation 5 is home to some fantastic first-party games, including Astro Bot, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök and plenty more. However, several beloved PlayStation franchises have been absent for years, even as Sony continues to bring some of its biggest properties to PS5.
One such franchise is Killzone, which was once dubbed a “Halo killer” when Guerrilla Games’ first-person shooter launched on PlayStation 2 in 2004. Unfortunately for Sony, while being a decent first-person shooter, it was far from being a “Halo killer”.
The Killzone franchise went on to receive multiple sequels and spin-offs across PlayStation consoles and handhelds, but it has now been dormant for more than a decade. Guerrilla Games has instead focused heavily on its Horizon franchise, with the last Killzone game being Killzone: Shadow Fall, which launched for PS4 in 2014.
New Killzone game reportedly in development for PlayStation
Yes, that’s right. As MP1st reported, a new Killzone game is reportedly in development. More specifically, Guerrilla Games is said to be working on a remake or remaster of the original 2004 game, with an external studio reportedly helping bring the project to life. Killzone did receive a basic remaster in 2012 on the PlayStation 3, so perhaps a full remake could make more sense, if true.
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That external studio is believed to be People Can Fly, the developer behind Bulletstorm and Outriders, which has also worked on major franchises including Gears of War. The studio certainly has plenty of experience with fast-paced shooters, making it an interesting choice for a potential Killzone project.
According to the report, the new Killzone game could become Guerrilla Games’ next major focus following the release of the upcoming Horizon Hunters Gathering, the multiplayer spin-off in development. However, the game reportedly received negative feedback during a recent beta, resulting in Horizon Hunters Gathering being rebooted before its official release. As a result, Killzone may now have become a higher priority for Guerrilla.
MP1st further reports that the new Killzone game could be released before Horizon 3, the rumoured sequel to 2022’s Horizon Forbidden West. However, those plans could reportedly change, meaning Horizon 3 could ultimately arrive first.
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When could the new Killzone game be released?
At the time of writing, it’s anyone’s guess when the new Killzone game could be released. We could use Horizon 3 as a potential benchmark, but considering that game hasn’t even been officially revealed yet, we could still be several years away from seeing the reported Killzone remake or remaster.
With that in mind, it’s certainly possible that the new Killzone could end up being a PlayStation 6 title. If that proves to be the case, it could even make for a compelling PS6 launch title, particularly given how long fans have been waiting for the series to return.
A new Killzone is something fans have wanted for years, and with more than a decade having passed since the last entry, a full remake would be the ideal way for Sony and PlayStation to reintroduce the franchise to both longtime fans and a new generation of players.
As always, we’ll keep you updated with any further developments regarding the reported new Killzone game.
Topics: Guerrilla Games, PlayStation, Retro Gaming, PlayStation 5