Back in September 2021, a Twisted Metal reboot was rumored to be in the works at UK-based developer Lucid Games. The team, best known for their work on the PlayStation 3’s Destruction AllStars, was aiming for a 2023 release date, but fans may want to curb their expectations. According to VGC, Lucid is no longer working on the reboot as of this month, and the unannounced title has been passed to Sony’s recently acquired Firesprite studio. More scandalously, the two studios are only located 15 minutes away from each other in Liverpool, and it seems that certain members of staff are being shuffled around. The reason for the move is unclear.
Matt Southern, game director at Lucid, left his role earlier this month to take the same position at Firesprite. Southern had previously directed various MotorStorm games, and was the original pitcher for Drive Club. It’s not clear whether Southern will still be working on the reboot or something different entirely. Firesprite has recently been in the headlines after announcing the PlayStation VR2 game Horizon Call of the Mountain.
Prior to Sony’s acquisition of the studio in 2020, Firesprite had been hiring for two titles: one multiplayer shooter and a “dark, narrative adventure with genre-defining goals.” PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst commented on Firesprite, calling it ” a creative and ambitious studio that is exceptional at building incredible experiences that truly showcase the potential of our hardware.” While no definitive reason is known for this switch up, many are speculating that poor reception to Lucid’s PlayStation 5 title Destruction All-Stars could have been a factor in the decision.
The Twisted Metal reboot has not yet been formally announced and has no projected release window. During Sony’s CES 2022 presentation earlier this month, the company announced that a Twisted Metal television series is in the works, substantiating rumors seen around the web since May 2019.
