Most Devastating Game Cancellations That We Are Still Not Over

It’s always disappointing when a video game gets canceled. It’s especially frustrating to see the effort of developers go to waste, whether due to budget issues or a sudden change of plans from those in charge.

Sometimes, when a video game is cancelled, it’s truly heartbreaking. Had these games been released, they likely would have been huge hits and boosted the reputations of the companies that made them.

8. Bully 2

Everyone’s Day Was Ruined After Finding Out About This Cancellation

Bully is a truly unique game from Rockstar. It realistically simulates high school life and features an unexpectedly compelling story that cleverly uses familiar school tropes, making for a really enjoyable experience.

A follow-up to this game had promising ideas, but Rockstar ultimately canceled it. It’s disappointing, as many players would have loved to see another open-world game from Rockstar, this time set in a high school. The intense development of *Red Dead Redemption* reportedly forced Rockstar to shift its focus, which led to the cancellation of *Bully 2*.

7. Silent Hills

P.T. Creatively Announced A New Silent Hill Game By Kojima That Never Came To Be

The game *P.T.* generated huge buzz and cleverly hinted at a new *Silent Hill* title being developed by Hideo Kojima. While the game showed incredible potential, a very public and messy falling out between Kojima and Konami ultimately led to its cancellation.

The highly anticipated game *Silent Hills* was cancelled, and its playable teaser, *P.T.*, was removed from the PlayStation Store. This meant fans lost the chance to play a potentially groundbreaking horror game from Hideo Kojima.

6. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 3

A KOTOR Trilogy Would Satiate The Souls Of Many Star Wars Fans

Many consider *Knights of the Old Republic 1* and *2* to be among the best *Star Wars* games ever created. The first game is famous for its incredible plot twist, and while the second game had some initial issues, fans eventually came to love it after fixing the bugs themselves.

As a huge fan of the *KOTOR* games, I was really hoping we’d get a third one – it would have been amazing! It’s such a shame it was cancelled, because I, like so many others, was picturing a complete trilogy. From what I understand, all the changes happening at LucasArts back then were a big reason why *KOTOR 3* never even got started.

5. Unnamed Deus Ex Project

Mankind Divided’s Cliffhanger Ending Will Never Be Resolved Now

Embracer Group initially gained attention by vowing to finance games through informal agreements, but those promises weren’t kept. As a result, the company had to significantly reduce its workforce and discontinue many projects.

This also encompassed an unreleased *Deus Ex* game intended to resolve the story left open at the end of *Mankind Divided*. Its cancellation is particularly disappointing, as there’s clear demand for well-made, immersive simulation games from experienced developers.

4. Sleeping Dogs 2

Wei Shen’s Adventures Would’ve Been Amazing In This Sequel

Sleeping Dogs is a fantastic action game that really delivers. It features exciting combat, a captivating story, and a beautifully realized open-world Hong Kong that feels incredibly vibrant and immersive. You can easily get lost in this game, which is clearly inspired by classic Hong Kong action movies.

Many players remember *Sleeping Dogs* fondly for its exciting combat – using the environment to defeat enemies, leaping between vehicles, and engaging in thrilling gun battles. A sequel was planned to be even bigger and better, but unfortunately, it was cancelled. Square Enix shifted its focus to other Western-developed titles like *Hitman* and *Tomb Raider*. Things were further complicated when United Front Games attempted to transform *Sleeping Dogs* into a multiplayer game, a project that ultimately failed.

3. Half-Life 2: Episode Three

A Heartbreaking Cancellation That Led To A Rise In The Demand For Half-Life 3

Few video game cancellations disappointed fans more than *Half-Life 2: Episode Three*. Players loved experiencing the story of the original game and its expansions in smaller parts, making Valve’s decision to stop there particularly frustrating.

The company stopped working on *Episode Three* because the way the game was structured, and a lack of clear vision, made it too difficult to continue. Fans then waited a very long time for another *Half-Life* game, and were excited about *Alyx* even though it could only be played with virtual reality equipment.

2. Alice: Asylum

A Cancellation So Devastating That American McGee Retired From The Industry

American McGee is a creative game developer known for creating two strikingly dark and original video games. *American McGee’s Alice* is a classic action-adventure game with a captivating world, and *Alice: Madness Returns* successfully builds upon the story and style of the first game.

Despite a lot of effort on the pitch for *Alice: Asylum*, EA rejected McGee’s proposal. This cancellation was deeply discouraging for the game designer, leading to his retirement and unfortunately, preventing players from ever experiencing what could have been another brilliant dark fantasy action game.

1. Football Manager 25

Fans Couldn’t Believe That Sports Interactive Cancelled An Anticipated Game In This Annual Series

Okay, it might sound weird, but a lot of us *Football Manager* fans were seriously upset when *Football Manager 25* got cancelled. I know it seems silly to buy a new version every year to people who don’t get it, but those of us who really love the game were genuinely excited for the next installment. It felt like a real letdown, honestly.

Many fans were disappointed to learn that *Football Manager 2025* was cancelled, especially after spending countless hours playing *Football Manager 2024*. Sports Interactive said the cancellation was due to significant improvements to the game’s interface and overall feel that couldn’t be finished in time. They first delayed the game, but ultimately decided to cancel it. Fans are now hoping that *FM26* will live up to expectations and make up for this setback.

2025-09-17 09:35