Series like Half-Life, Doom, and Deus Ex have helped to make the sci-fi genre one of the most popular in all of gaming. At a time when many titles are pushing for realism in even the most minute of details, these franchises instead delve deep into the imaginations of developers to provide an experience that is truly out of this world. They take players beyond the confines of reality as we know them and into realms that, to many, are beyond belief.
Despite the plethora of wonderful sci-fi games to choose from though, there are plenty that never saw the light of day. For various reasons, these potential powerhouses were canceled before launch, leaving behind only unrealized ideas and unfulfilled potential. Conversely, there are some huge sci-fi titles waiting just around the corner that look set to be the stars of the future. These are the ones that have—or had—the potential to take the genre to new heights.
10 Canceled: Velvet Dark
Perfect Dark built on the foundations laid by Goldeneye 007 and was arguably the best FPS game on the N64. As a result, Rare set about making a spinoff for the GameCube that was known internally as Velvet Dark. Rather than Joanna, players would have controlled her sister, Velvet. Had it been even half as groundbreaking as the original title, it’s likely that it would have made some real waves.
Unfortunately, Rare were bought-out by Microsoft in 2002, and the developers shifted their attention to creating a sequel, instead. The resulting game, Perfect Dark Zero, received fairly decent reviews upon its release but was nowhere near as seminal as the original game.
9 In Development: Kerbal Space Program 2
The original Kerbal Space Program won several awards and was widely praised by critics. In particular, the game’s physics and orbit mechanics felt incredibly realistic and made for a wonderful interstellar experience. With that in mind, the prospect of a sequel with a significantly larger budget is an incredibly exciting one.
The sequel’s development has been complicated, to say the least, though. The original developer, Star Theory Games, shut down in early 2020 after Private Division reportedly canceled their publishing contract and poached many of their staff. Messiness aside, however, Kerbal Space Program 2 looks like it’s shaping up nicely and could very well surpass the original when it eventually launches.
8 Canceled: Firefly Online
The idea of a crew of space cowboys traveling around the universe made for an incredibly captivating television show. It stands to reason, then, that it would also have led to a fantastic video game. Firefly Online was being developed by Quantum Mechanix and was first announced at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con.
The game was planned to be a mobile title with around 200 different planets for players to explore. There were missions, different spaceships, and a wide roster of characters that players could recruit to their crews. Although never officially canceled, the last official update on the project came in 2016, and many speculate that the license for the IP has now lapsed.
7 In Development: Watch Dogs: Legion
The Watch Dogs series has been responsible for some fairly innovative ideas, and, for the most part, has been able to back these up with a coherent narrative. It’s perhaps not quite groundbreaking, but it certainly has the potential to be if some of those ideas can be further fleshed out and better integrated into the games. Watch Dogs: Legion looks to do just that.
The game will allow players to take control of many of the people living in the game’s world. This in itself is an intriguing concept and one that could provide plenty of new ways to tackle the game’s objectives. Not to mention, of course, the hilarity that controlling an 80-year-old woman brings with it.
6 Canceled: Pioneer
Pioneer was first teased way back in 2016’s Watch Dogs 2. Players were able to hack into the Ubisoft servers and obtain a copy of the trailer for a game called Pioneer and then sell it to a gaming website. Despite being set in a work of fiction though, the trailer was based on a real game that Ubisoft was developing at the time.
The game shown in the trailer is a little reminiscent of titles like No Man’s Sky and Journey to the Savage Planet, with bright colors and beautiful graphics. Unfortunately, however, a 2019 Tweet by Assassin’s Creed 3’s Creative Director claimed that the game had been canceled. It’s worth noting that Hutchinson no longer works at Ubisoft, but one suspects that he remains fairly well connected.
5 In Development: System Shock
System Shock is a remake of a 1994 game of the same name. Although its sales figures were a little underwhelming, the original was a big hit with critics and implemented some interesting ideas that would go on to become staples in the sci-fi genre. With that in mind, there’s plenty to be optimistic about when it comes to the remake.
The game was funded through Kickstarter, and the footage released so far looks fantastic. Unfortunately, though, like many crowdfunding projects, things haven’t quite panned out in terms of the expected release date. Developer Nightdive Studios has pushed the game’s release back several times now, and, at the time of writing, there is still no firm release date.
4 Canceled: The 10th Planet
The 10th Planet was a space combat game being worked on by Centropolis Entertainment and Bethesda. Bethesda needs no introduction, but, for those unfamiliar with Centropolis, it’s a production company that’s responsible for some of the biggest sci-fi movies ever made. Unfortunately, though, the game just wasn’t meant to be.
The 10th Planet would have focused heavily on dogfighting and aerial combat and centered around an alien invasion of the Milky Way. The player would have controlled the only survivor of the aliens’ initial attack and fought in a huge battle to settle the fate of the earth. It sounds like a game with plenty of potential, and, given the caliber of the companies involved, it’s likely that it would have lived up to it too.
3 In Development: Halo Infinite
The Halo series is one of the biggest and most influential in gaming. Since its first entry on the original Xbox, it has repeatedly changed and reinvented the genre with its innovations and fantastic storytelling. Sadly, Halo Infinite won’t be ready in time for the launch of the new Xbox consoles. Fans shouldn’t have to wait too much longer, though.
The game looks set to be the biggest and best Halo title yet. With 4K graphics and the sheer power of the new consoles, it’s exciting to think about what Infinite will bring to the table. A change of lead-writer so far into development may be a cause for concern for some fans, but, given Joseph Staten’s track record with the series, most will consider his to be a very safe pair of hands.
2 Canceled: Chrono Break
Chrono Trigger is one of the most important JRPG’s ever made. Not only did it redefine the genre in several ways, but its well-integrated time travel elements helped to provide a sci-fi experience that was neither too complex nor too simplistic. Although a second game was made in the Chrono series, Chrono Cross wasn’t the sequel that fans had been yearning for. Perhaps Chrono Break could have been, though.
Square registered a trademark for Chrono Break around one year after the release of Chrono Cross. A script for the game was at one point being considered, but, unfortunately, the game was canceled before development ever really got going. What little work that had been done on the title was eventually repurposed for Final Fantasy Dimensions II.
1 In Development: Cyberpunk 2077
Developed by the team behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and featuring one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood, Cyberpunk 2077 has already made waves before its actual release. Development hasn’t been smooth-sailing, with the recent allegations of crunch just the latest in a string of setbacks and disappointments. There’s no denying, though, that the game looks fantastic.
Set in a dystopian future, Cyberpunk takes place in a sprawling open world that’s visually stunning. Almost everything about the protagonist is customizable, and there’s a huge arsenal of futuristic weapons. The game will also allow for a pacifist run, which is always nice for those who don’t like violence or just love the extra challenge. Given the hype surrounding it, this game is going to be huge. Whether or not it will be groundbreaking though remains to be seen.
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