Key Takeaways
- PlayStation has long-running iconic franchises, but Sony has neglected some like Ape Escape and Wipeout.
- MediEvil and Fat Princess, beloved franchises, have been neglected and abandoned by developers.
- Jak & Daxter and Heavenly Sword didn’t get sequels due to changing studios’ priorities away from these IPs.
As a diehard fan of the PlayStation console since its inception, I have witnessed the rise and fall of many beloved franchises over the years. The heartbreak of seeing potential gems like “Heavenly Sword” and “Resistance” being left behind is a feeling all too familiar to us veterans. It’s like watching your favorite band break up after their best album, leaving fans yearning for more but never getting it.
Over the past three decades, the PlayStation label has built up a significant collection of franchises that have left an indelible mark on the gaming industry in various ways. Yet, when contrasted with its rivals, Sony tends to be less consistent with their intellectual properties and is more prone to completely disregarding some of them.
Undeniably, there are popular PlayStation series that continue to churn out new installments such as Ratchet & Clank and God of War. However, there’s also a significant number of games that sadly may never see the light of day again, having once provided countless gamers with unforgettable gaming experiences. It’s truly unfortunate.
1 Ape Escape
Wacky 3D Platformers By A Now Defunct Studio
Ape Escape is a unique platforming/adventure series focused around the concept of capturing quirky, animated apes. These games gained popularity due to their amusing humor, creative control mechanisms, and enjoyable gameplay, which made Pipo Monkeys quite renowned as one of Sony’s main characters at a certain point in time.
Regrettably, it’s been over a decade since we’ve seen new installments of the “Ape Escape” series, with the last game being released as a PlayStation Move title in 2010. The conspicuous absence of these zany monkeys can be attributed to several factors. It appears that Sony has chosen to prioritize more popular and traditional platforming franchises, such as “Ratchet & Clank” or “Sly Cooper,” over the “Ape Escape” series. Additionally, Japan Studio, the Japanese studio behind “Ape Escape,” was closed in 2021, which has led to many of their prominent IPs vanishing along with them.
2 Wipeout
Sony’s Iconic Futuristic Racing Franchise Has Disappeared
As far as high-speed, forward-thinking racing games go, Nintendo offers “F-Zero” while Sony boasts “Wipeout”. These exhilarating racers were a cornerstone of the PlayStation 1’s game library and have continued to be popular among gamers for quite some time. However, this trend ended in 2012, when the studio responsible for their creation, Psygnosis, was shut down.
Since the unfortunate shutdown, progress on new Wipeout installments has nearly halted, as its latest games have been a remastered collection and a lesser-known mobile title. Without Psygnosis and it seeming that Sony is losing interest in high-octane racing games like these, the chances of Wipeout making a comeback are dwindling.
3 MediEvil
A Unique Series That Never Got The Treatment It Deserved
Longtime fans of the PlayStation series have a soft spot for the eerie, Tim Burton-inspired action/adventure duology known as MediEvil, which first graced their PS1 consoles. The gameplay may be straightforward but it’s undeniably effective, and the protagonist, Sir Daniel Fortesque, is a captivating character who has made appearances in other titles such as PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and Astro’s Playroom.
Surprisingly, even though it’s well-liked, the MediEvil series consists of only four games, with two being remakes of the initial release. The studio responsible for creating this series, Guerrilla Cambridge, ceased operations in 2017, and Other Ocean Interactive, developers of the 2019 remake, have not collaborated with Sony since its launch. It seems plausible that the company views MediEvil as a franchise with little value, considering it an obscure title that they believe isn’t worth continuing.
4 Jak And Daxter
Naughty Dog Makes Entirely Different Games Now
The heyday for enthusiasts of 3D platform characters was during the PlayStation 2 era, where games like Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper, and Jak and Daxter thrived together, offering enjoyable experiences. However, as other similar games transitioned to newer console generations, Jak and Daxter remained exclusively on the PS2 (with only a few remakes).
Fans adore this PlayStation franchise for its charming protagonists, innovative gameplay, and daring shift in mood, but it appears neither Sony nor the original creators, Naughty Dog, are keen on producing further installments. Notably, Naughty Dog has shifted focus towards grittier and mature titles such as “Uncharted” and “The Last of Us.” Although Sony could assign development to another studio (as they did with “Sly Cooper”), this hasn’t transpired yet.
5 Fat Princess
A Popular Multiplayer Experience With A Tasteless Premise
2009 saw me fall in love with a game that took everyone by surprise – Fat Princess, created by Titan Studios. In this multiplayer adventure, my mission was to save my princess and bring her back home. However, the enemy had other plans: they’d fatten her up with cake, making her too heavy to transport easily! It sounds strange, doesn’t it? But somehow, it worked wonderfully, earning Fat Princess a place among PlayStation’s most successful new franchises.
After receiving several sequels, the main character of Fat Princess also became a playable fighter in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. However, since 2015, there hasn’t been any new news about Fat Princess, leaving fans curious about its fate. There are two possible reasons for this: firstly, Titan Studios, the original developers of Fat Princess, no longer exist; secondly, Fun Bits Interactive, who developed some of the sequels, has been inactive for quite a while. Another possibility is that modern sensibilities might find the concept of Fat Princess too insensitive, making it unlikely that Sony would release a game that could potentially stir up controversy for them.
6 Heavenly Sword
An Epic Hack & Slash Adventure, Created By A Studio That Was Snatched By The Competition
2007 saw the unveiling of “Heavenly Sword,” a hidden gem for PlayStation 3 enthusiasts like me. This hack & slash game was more than just a visual treat, demonstrating the mighty prowess of Sony’s HD console. With its dynamic combat system, captivating graphics, and an intriguing protagonist named Nariko, it truly showcased what this franchise was capable of. Granted, it wasn’t flawless – some critics argued it bore a striking resemblance to “God of War” – but it was a promising debut in a series brimming with potential.
Despite initial plans for a follow-up to the game “Heavenly Sword”, no such sequel was produced. Originally developed by Ninja Theory, the studio had intentions to continue the series but shifted focus towards other projects instead. It was rumored that Guerrilla Cambridge was working on another installment, however, Sony decided against it due to doubts about the game’s commercial viability. Unfortunately, the acquisition of Ninja Theory by Microsoft in 2018 made it highly unlikely for the character Nariko to reappear.
7 Killzone
The Industry Isn’t Obsessed With First-Person Shooters Anymore
In the mid-2000s through the early 2010s, a large portion of the Western gaming industry was dominated by military first-person shooters, largely due to the surge in popularity of Call of Duty. Not to be left behind, Sony joined the trend and produced several notable exclusives within this genre, with Killzone being one of their biggest hits.
Originating from Guerrilla Games, these were top-notch First-Person Shooter (FPS) games with a dark sci-fi edge, robust gunplay mechanics, and a significant online aspect. However, Killzone 3 garnered quite a divided response, while Killzone Shadow Fall (initially released for the PlayStation 4) was met with severe criticism. Regardless, the franchise’s less-than-favorable reception didn’t deter Guerrilla Games, as they transitioned to the successful Horizon series, a departure that feels more innovative and revitalizing compared to Killzone. It appears that the studio intends to continue developing their new intellectual property in the foreseeable future.
8 Resistance
Insomniac Is Prioritizing More Creative Endeavors
remarkably, the trend of first-person shooter (FPS) games during the seventh generation of video game consoles significantly impacted Insomniac Games, known for vibrant series like Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank. From 2006 to 2011, they produced the Resistance trilogy for PlayStation 3 – a set of sci-fi FPS games centered around an apocalyptic alien invasion storyline. Given Insomniac’s high reputation in the gaming industry, these FPS titles received critical acclaim and featured strong gameplay mechanics, as well as a relatively well-received multiplayer mode. Despite being more serious and darker than their typical games, they were still appreciated by many players.
However, following the launch of Resistance 3, Insomniac Games openly expressed their disinterest in creating similar titles. Now, they are focusing their efforts on more vibrant and imaginative projects such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Marvel’s Spider-Man, which better align with their creative vision. It is possible for Sony to commission another studio to develop new Resistance games, but it seems that the market currently has a decreasing appetite for dark first-person shooters.
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2024-09-01 11:44