Sony's Twisted Metal Battle Royale: The Abandoned Vision Behind Closed Doors
Polina Hans
04 Mar 2025
n recent times, the landscape of video game development has seen notable shifts, particularly within major companies striving to adapt to changing trends. One significant development came from Sony, which underwent a series of cancellations and studio closures. This strategy appeared aimed at realigning its focus on a live-service model, a pivot that has subsequently brought challenges. Among the many projects that fell by the wayside was a new Twisted Metal game, a decision that highlights Sony's altered priorities.
Reports have emerged indicating that the abandoned Twisted Metal project, developed by Firesprite, was intended to be a battle royale experience. While it was known that the game would incorporate multiplayer elements, these new insights suggest that PlayStation was also exploring the popular battle royale genre, a trend from which several developers have recently distanced themselves.
Details regarding this concept were shared by a previous Firesprite team member, specifically an ex-UI programmer, who provided glimpses into the game's design. According to their account, the game was designed around third-person shooting mechanics, featuring intense vehicular combat alongside the option for players to disembark and navigate on foot. The gameplay included objectives that clearly indicated players needed to emerge as the last person remaining in the match. Additionally, there were indications of a credit system for avoiding elimination, health indicators for teammates, and the project was being constructed using Unreal Engine 5, a technology Firesprite continues to utilize for future projects.
While speculation on the potential success of this Twisted Metal concept is moot given its cancellation, one can ponder whether it could have evolved into an engaging enhancement for the franchise.