Zeus: Saints Row dev's canceled post-apocalyptic open-world game

Volition was working on a post-apocalyptic open-world game for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 codenamed "Zeus."

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Volition was working on a post-apocalyptic open-world game for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 codenamed "Zeus." It was originally going to be a modern Western set in a post-apocalyptic Rio, starring a hardened gunslinger exploring a lawless and broken city. It would have been a mostly on-foot game, and would have been a drastic departure for the studio best known for the Saints Row franchise.

The studio felt good about where they were heading with Zeus. "Right or wrong, we know we could've made this game," senior producer Greg Donovan said at a panel at Game Developers Conference. "But it would've taken too long," he added. "It wouldn't have been the responsible thing to do." So, Volition shut down the game--by their own volition.

While some members of the studio were obviously disappointed by the game's cancellation, Donovan explained that they're glad of their ability to "fail fast" thanks to their ability to create vision tools quickly. The studio is currently working on a "top secret" project, which will use the learnings from their experience with Zeus.

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

From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 21, 2014 11:00 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Zeus: Saints Row dev's canceled post-apocalyptic open-world game.

    Volition was working on a post-apocalyptic open-world game for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 codenamed "Zeus."

    • reply
      March 21, 2014 11:20 AM

      I see what you did there.

      That game sounds pretty sweet to be honest. I'd love to see more slower-paced, methodical, exploration-oriented open-world games.

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        March 21, 2014 11:24 AM

        That said, I can understand why they cancelled it. It sounds like something approaching a Bethesda-scale RPG. Aside from the development talent, something like that requires a long-term financial commitment to the development and a level of testicular fortitude needed to stick with it and not rush it out the door. Not every developer is able or willing to commit to something that risky.

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      March 21, 2014 11:28 AM

      :( oh well.

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      March 21, 2014 11:29 AM

      no biggie, it will come out on PC as planned, right? :D :D :D dubstep guns for everyone!

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      March 21, 2014 5:04 PM

      So it's about the World Cup.

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      March 24, 2014 11:04 AM

      Would have loved to have played this. We dont have the western genre represented enough in this hobby of ours.

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        March 24, 2014 12:24 PM

        Agreed. What few examples there are typically wind up being existing gameplay types with a veneer of western thrown over, e.g. Red Dead Redemption AKA Grand Theft: Horse or Call of Juarez AKA Medal of Honor: Tin Star.

        Not that either are bad games mind you, just that we either need more western stuff or something that goes a bit deeper into it.

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