Twisted Metal's Comeback Halted: PlayStation Layoffs Drive Cancellation of Iconic Series' Revival

An unannounced game from the Twisted Metal series has reportedly been scrapped in the wake of extensive layoffs at PlayStation. Firesprite, a Liverpool-based studio, was rumored to be developing the game, potentially as a live-service offering.

Twisted Metal, a franchise that debuted on the original PlayStation in 1995, hasn't seen a new release since 2012's Twisted Metal for the PlayStation 3. Despite a long hiatus, interest in the franchise was recently reignited by a Peacock TV series featuring Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz, which may have spurred initial plans for a new game.

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reports that the project's cancellation is linked to the recent job cuts at PlayStation, with Firesprite—one of the studios affected most by the layoffs—being the designated developer. Firesprite was formed from the remnants of Studio Liverpool and had previously collaborated with Guerrilla Games on Horizon Call of the Mountain before reportedly shifting focus to Twisted Metal.

Schreier also addressed rumors about the game's progress, clarifying that the Twisted Metal title was in its early development stages and had not yet received an official green light. Even absent the layoffs, the game's future was not guaranteed. The loss of the anticipated follow-up to one of the PS3's notable vehicle-based games is a disappointment to fans and the industry alike.

This cancellation is part of a broader trend of layoffs and project cancellations within the gaming industry, including Blizzard's recent termination of a long-developed, yet unannounced survival game. These developments contribute to a growing atmosphere of uncertainty for many professionals within the gaming sector.