Prey 2 was supposed to be Red Dead Redemption in space. How a doomed project went wrong

Image source: Human Head Studios / Bethesda Softworks

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Life for the Prey brand has never been easy. The first part of the series was created painfully over 11 years.Meanwhile, it was transferred from the hands of 3D Realms to Human Head Studios. But when the game was released on PC and Xbox 360 in 2006, it was a huge artistic and commercial success; it seemed like a matter of time before a sequel was created. Let’s see how you promised to be. Prey 2Let’s also analyze its path from the first announcement to the publication of an unforgettable gameplay and to the cancellation of the project.

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(Also) Quick announcement about the sequel.

We first heard that Prey would have a sequel a few months after the premiere of Human Head Studios’ work. However, we had to wait until 2008 for the official announcement of the project. Due to the fact that the developers initially spent time thinking about the concept and developing the framework of the project, Proper work on Prime 2 It only started in 2009.So the game started to take shape after the brand. victim It was owned by Bethesda Softworks.

The new publisher has asked fans to wait for the first trailer. Priya 2 Until 2011. In the weeks that followed, we received more information about this work, until the end. During E3, we saw the first full-length game.The video captured the imagination of the players, and they predicted a great success for this title.

Signs of success

Starting Priya 2 It was planned to be a direct continuation of the first part of the series.During the game, we will play as Tommy again (the hero will have to leave Earth), and in terms of mechanics, manipulation of gravity and creation of portals will play a major role. However, this idea was eventually abandoned.

Meanwhile, a breakthrough was made. Red Dead Redemptionwhich Human Head Studios decided to build on.made Priya 2…an open world game. This won’t be the only change they’ll make, because The authors intended to cast a completely new character as the main character.We’re talking about Killian Samuels, who will become a bounty hunter after being abducted by aliens and landing on the planet Exodus. Although Tommy will be present in this production, he will serve as a kind of mentor to the new hero.

As for the idea of ​​play, Chris Reinhart, the project leader, described it perfectly. How Blast magazine reportedReinhart stated that:

Killian works in a futuristic neon-lit city, getting to know its inhabitants and carrying out tasks on their behalf. Exploration will be more interesting with the parkour system, which many compare to this system. Mirror Edge, thanks to which Samuels can smoothly climb over environmental elements, jump over terrain obstacles or even cover short distances by gliding.

During the shootout, we can hide behind covers, eliminate enemies at close range with punches and kicks, as well as hold hostages who can serve as human shields.As for the arsenal, the creators have allowed us to see a pistol and a shotgun in action, among other things.

Separate mention should be made of the spectacular chase scenes, as well as the need to make choices that may not necessarily be black and white. You don’t have to worry about high graphics quality either – the authors have a good knowledge of id Tech 4 technology.which was to feed this position.

Prey 2. Published by: Human Head Studios / Bethesda Softworks.

Slippery slope and sad end to the project

And then Prey 2 It had a bright future ahead of it, and its authors could work peacefully on their work, right? Well, nothing could be further from the truth.

In early 2012 Unofficial reports have emerged.under which the project was facing serious problems.Which put its future fate in doubt. Furthermore, for unexplained reasons, Human Head Studios was supposed to stop working on it at the end of 2011.

Shortly thereafter, Bethesda first announced a release delay. Priya 2then removed the item from its website. In 2013, the first rumors emerged that Arkane Studios (or more accurately Arkane Austin) would be commissioned to work on Prey 2.

Unfortunately, in 2014, Bethesda officially cancelled the project, claiming that it did not meet their expectations. And what was its status then? Although it was moved here Reinhardt later argued with this work: Prime 2 It was so advanced that it was approaching alpha release.Kotaku reported that it was actually closer to a beta release only.

Unofficial causes of confusion

Although Bethesda has consistently denied these reports, IGN reportedThat’s after the first playthrough with Priya 2 After it turned out to be a huge success, the company wanted to buy Human Head Studios at any price.As a result, the publisher allegedly unfairly “played” with the developers, making demands that were impossible to meet without additional funding. As a result, in order to receive additional money, the authors had to secretly engage in the creation of other projects, such as BioShock Infinite or Defiance. The creators got tired of this situation, went on strike and stopped working at the end of 2011. Prime 2Subsequent negotiations made no progress.

And when? In 2012, the cooperation contract between the studio and the publisher ended.The project in question was exclusively in the hands of Bethesda Softworks, while Human Head Studios had no choice but to start working on other games.

Prey 2. Published by: Human Head Studios / Bethesda Softworks.

New life

In 2016, it became known that there were rumors of a transfer. Priya 2 There was a grain of truth to the Arkane Studios team. But the creators of Dishonored were already working on a new prey. It was a completely different project, and the authors themselves considered it a “spiritual successor.” Shock system.

The production, which eventually became a reboot of the brand, went on sale in 2017. With the first and second Prime There wasn’t much in common with Arkane Studios’ work – just the title, the first-person perspective, and the theme of contacts with extraterrestrial beings.

As for Human Head Studios itself – The team closed in 2019. Most of its members at the time were… Under the wing of Bethesda SoftworksMore precisely – to its own Roundhouse Studios. The latter was closed in May 2024 and its employees were transferred to ZeniMax Online Studios.