The Last Guardian devs 'rebuilding' game, making 'slow progress'

At this point, we've seen more drama surrounding the development of The Last Guardian than we have actual gameplay footage. The next game from Team...

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At this point, we've seen more drama surrounding the development of The Last Guardian than we have actual gameplay footage. The next game from Team Ico has been plagued by extensive delays, and was purportedly "canceled" after game designer Fumito Ueda resigned from the company to work as a contractor. With no release date in sight, how is The Last Guardian shaping up?

According to Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida, the game is still "making progress," but adds that it is "slow progress."

"It's still a really important project and a vision we want to see realized," Yoshida told 1UP. "Fumito's vision is really causing a very difficult challenge for the developers, so there's some scrapping and rebuilding -- iteration in the process. That's why [it's taking so long]."

"There have been technical issues and the engineering team is reworking it," Yoshida told Game Informer. "It's playable, but not to the level of when we can say it’s coming."

With the game being overhauled, it seems increasingly likely that The Last Guardian might not even make 2012. Shacknews has always been doubtful of the game's release in 2012--hence its non-appearance on our most anticipated games list.

Speaking about Ueda's relationship with Sony, Yoshida offered this: "If this project goes well -- you know, fingers crossed -- we've worked with him for a long time so yeah I certainly hope we can maintain a relationship." Gamers everywhere are also hoping the game "goes well."

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 10, 2012 10:00 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, The Last Guardian devs 'rebuilding' game, making 'slow progress'.

    At this point, we've seen more drama surrounding the development of The Last Guardian than we have actual gameplay footage. The next game from Team...

    • reply
      February 10, 2012 10:17 AM

      Here's hoping it ever gets released :(

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      February 10, 2012 10:19 AM

      It will be amazing. Trust me.

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      February 10, 2012 10:24 AM

      I want to believe, but Jesus fucking CHRIST, guys. :(

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        February 10, 2012 12:59 PM

        My words exactly :(

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      February 10, 2012 10:26 AM

      I increasingly get the feeling that at this point, he's waiting for the next-next gen of console hardware.

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        February 10, 2012 10:33 AM

        that would be incredibly dumb. if he can't fit his vision into the PS3 i don't know what to tell him. he's had the entire generation to build this software.

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        February 10, 2012 10:35 AM

        Actually, if you read the original 1UP interview it sounds a whole lot better than this headline makes out.

        Fumito is still in charge of the project, still working in the same office and coming in every day. He just doesn't want to deal with Sony anymore, so he's off the business side (a contractor).

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      February 10, 2012 10:33 AM

      goddamnit, i bought a ps3 for these motherfuckers. every other game just just been incidental.

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      February 10, 2012 10:34 AM

      If they mess with what he designed then I won't be buying it. This game was the only reason I bought a PS3.

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        February 10, 2012 10:42 AM

        I understood it so that it's been taking so long because they don't want to compromise Fumito's vision.

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      February 10, 2012 10:42 AM

      If it doesn't make it this year, might as well launch it with the PS4.

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      February 10, 2012 10:48 AM

      [deleted]

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      February 10, 2012 11:15 AM

      FUCK!

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      February 10, 2012 12:11 PM

      Well that sounds awesome.....

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      February 10, 2012 12:34 PM

      "it seems increasingly likely that The Last Guardian might not even make 2012. "

      Well, I give up. I thought the game would be finished by the time I graduated university.

      Maybe it will be done by the time I finish my Masters in two years.

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      February 10, 2012 1:00 PM

      In Team ICO's new game, you're the one who dies waiting for the game!

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      February 10, 2012 1:03 PM

      Welp. Guess that leaves Journey for "PS3 Exclusives I'm looking forward to"

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      February 10, 2012 2:26 PM

      Man, what the hell happened to this game?

      When I first saw it, I was looking for my jaw on the floor. Such awesome trailer, premise and promise.

      What the fuck were they showing us? A pre-scripted in-game prototype?

      I thought the game was done at that point.

      What a disaster.... ;(

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        February 10, 2012 2:29 PM

        Oh and I bought a fucking PS3 largely because I saw the trailer for this game.

        ;(

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        February 10, 2012 8:09 PM

        I dunno what about that first look made you think it was anywhere near close to done. Standard teaser stuff.

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      February 10, 2012 6:20 PM

      7 years. It's been seven years so far. It'll more than likely be 8 or 9 when it's done. This is quickly approaching DNF levels...

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      February 10, 2012 8:05 PM

      No way Sony is gonna continue to fund this game for another two years. It would be different if it was gonna be a mega-seller, but that's not realistic. Even Sony's most succeful exclusives sell modestly well. This is a title that will only sell a couple million. That's good if the game takes two-three years to develop, but not for one that is gonna take four-six.

      It's gonna get canceled I'm afraid. Brace yourselves!

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        February 10, 2012 9:54 PM

        That's what I'm afraid of. Rebuilding a game at this late stage(SEVEN YEARS?!) is about as bad as it gets. Hopefully the situation isn't quite as dire as it sounds but I'm not hopeful. Fuck.

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      February 12, 2012 5:08 AM

      [deleted]

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      February 13, 2012 4:26 AM

      "It's still a really important project and a vision we want to see realized," Yoshida told 1UP. "Fumito's vision is really causing a very difficult challenge for the developers, so there's some scrapping and rebuilding -- iteration in the process. That's why [it's taking so long]."


      sounds like prey and dnf together! this is going to be fun!

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