The end of the PlayStation 4 platform cycle is nearing and while we have plenty of great titles to look forward in releasing, we’re still finding out about some rather interesting games of yesteryear that were cancelled. In this list, we’re going to check out some of the cancelled PlayStation 3 video game titles that we can’t believe were killed off. As time goes by, new information, screenshots, and assets leak out revealing titles that could have been great but was never given the chance to release.
#10 Naughty Dog Untitled Sci-Fi Game
Any gamer worth their salt knows about Naughty Dog. The Sony exclusive development studio is well-known for some fantastic IPs over the years such as Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. Each game delivered hours of fun and as a result, each new IP announced is instantly highly anticipated. Over the later years, the development team really started to deliver more cinematic narrative focused games after the launch of Jak and Daxter’s series. As we slowly moved into the PlayStation 3, Naughty Dog was tinkering around with different IPs.
This particular IP is untitled and was revealed during the Naughty Dog’s 30th Anniversary art book where it was unveiled that the studio was working on a science fiction video game. Details are very scarce as to what Naughty Dog had planned and it’s likely because the developers could still one day come back and bring out the game. Apparently, this game was going to be set in a world where civilization has been built around a massive hole. With no knowledge as to what created the hole, players would be venturing down into the abyss below. We’re not sure just why Naughty Dog decided to scrap the title but because the game was set aside the development studio was able to deliver Uncharted.
#9 SuperBot Entertainment Untitled Fighting Game
SuperBot Entertainment might not sound all that familiar but this video game studio was around in 2009 where it delivered PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, a game that was essentially Sony’s answer to Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. franchise. Unfortunately, that game didn’t hit the sales and goals that Sony had intended for which resulted in Sony severing ties with the studio. Since then SuperBot Entertainment wasn’t able to bounce back and eventually closed two years after the release of the Sony exclusive. However, there was another PlayStation 3 video game exclusive that the studio was throwing together.
The game was never officially announced to the public and as a result, there are mostly just rumors and speculation pieces regarding the game along with its premise. From what we are able to gather this was a fighting game set in a high school setting. Players would be taking on various characters such as a cheerleader or football player and while we don’t have a premise it seems that each character would have had their own unique abilities.
#8 Eight Days
Eight Days was in development under Sony’s SCE London Studio where it was shown off at the 2006 E3 press conference. Within Eight Days, players would follow two different characters, essentially a good pathway along with a darker pathway. Both protagonists in the pathways are after a mob syndicate for their own specific reasons but as the game progresses the duo end up crossing paths. Working together, players would be venturing off in this action single-player title in what was supposed to be the largest video game map ever at the time.
The PlayStation 3 exclusive was only in early development before being scrapped. It’s not really known just why the game never went on with production but in 2008 Sony did confirm that Eight Days was killed off.
According to Sony, the decision was made mainly because there were other exclusives at the time which Sony deemed more important. Since then there have been conflicting reports from Sony. In 2009 Sony went back on their word and said that Eight Days wasn’t cancelled but just put on hold, but here we are years later with the game nowhere in sight.
#7 Heavenly Sword 2
Ninja Theory may be best known for Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice but they had a release for the PlayStation 3 called Heavenly Sword. The game was a hack-and-slash title that had a unique story revolving around an ancient blade that was crafted to destroy a demonic warlord. Left within the mortal world after the warlord was slain, human factions would constantly battle for control over this mythical blade until it was claimed by a tribe and locked away in order to establish peace within the civilizations again. Legend stated that one day the rightful wielder for the sword would be reborn, claim the sword and as a result, the person would bring the world into a fully peaceful state.
Players took control of Nariko which could use the sword and transform it to suit the need at any given moment. For instance, players could transform it for more speed focused attacks or even extend it for long-range blows. This game narrative was so big and in-depth that it even spanned a few CGI animated episodes for players to watch along with a film which released in 2014. Luckily the game was well received by several critics and fans alike. Unfortunately, Heavenly Sword just didn’t reach the numbers the development team had hoped for.
So when it came to a sequel there was news being reported that the studio had a story written with a third title slated to follow afterwards. However, in 2008 Ninja Theory decided to scrap the sequel in favor of a more cinematic video game called Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Since then the franchise hasn’t been touched and Ninja Theory went on to be purchased by Microsoft.
#6 The Getaway 3
The Getaway was a franchise that first got its start on the PlayStation 2 by development studio SCE London Studio. This was an action-adventure open world video game that was able to deliver enough attention for the development studio to warrant a sequel, known as The Getaway: Black Monday. However, it would be a few years before Sony found it worthy to bring out the third installment.
From what we know about the game, The Getaway 3 would have been set in London and would also have an Amsterdam setting. Unfortunately for fans of the franchise, it seemed that when Sony was looking at their line of IP exclusives in 2008 and ultimately decided that The Getaway 3 was no longer a title worth putting their efforts into developing.
