"Next-Gen Blade Runner Game by Until Dawn Studio Reportedly Canceled"

Supermassive Games, renowned for crafting thrilling horror adventures such as Until Dawn, The Quarry, and the popular The Dark Pictures Anthology series, has reportedly halted development on an undisclosed Blade Runner project. As highlighted by Insider Gaming, the studio had been secretly working on a character-driven, cinematic action-adventure game titled Blade Runner: Time To Live. Set in the year 2065, the game was envisioned as a gripping tale following a vintage Nexus-6 replicant tasked with eliminating the head of an underground replicant resistance, only to face betrayal and survival in a perilous environment. Gameplay would have blended elements of stealth, combat, exploration, investigation, and deeply engaging character interactions.

According to Insider Gaming, Blade Runner: Time To Live boasted a substantial budget of approximately $45 million, with $9 million allocated specifically for advanced performance capture technology and star-studded voice acting talent. The game was expected to deliver a narrative experience spanning roughly 10-12 hours and was initially set for pre-production in September 2024, targeting a September 2027 release across PC platforms and both current and next-generation consoles. However, the project reportedly unraveled due to complications involving Alcon Entertainment, the rights holder to the Blade Runner franchise, leading to its cancellation sometime during the previous year.

In related news, in the summer of 2023, Annapurna Interactive announced plans to develop their inaugural in-house title within the Blade Runner universe, titled Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth. Promoted as the first official Blade Runner game in a quarter-century, no updates or further details have emerged since its announcement.

Additionally, Supermassive Games continues to navigate multiple projects, including the upcoming entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology series, Directive 8020, and the third installment of Little Nightmares. Last year, the studio underwent significant restructuring, laying off nearly 90 employees, as noted by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, signaling a period of strategic reassessment.

Interestingly, Supermassive's earlier success, Until Dawn, recently inspired a feature film adaptation directed by David F. Sandberg, which premiered in theaters earlier this month. For a deeper dive into the cinematic interpretation of Until Dawn, readers can explore our comprehensive review [here].