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EA has cancelled free-to-play RTS Command & Conquer and closed developer Victory Games.
The decision follows negative feedback on the title, which had been due to roll out in a soft launch later this year.
“Part of being in a creative team is the understanding that not all of your choices are going to work out,” said Victory on the official Command & Conquer website. “In this case, we shifted the game away from campaign mode and built an economy-based, multiplayer experience.
“Your feedback from the alpha trial is clear: We are not making the game you want to play. That is why, after much difficult deliberation, we have decided to cease production of this version of the game. Although we deeply respect the great work done by our talented team, ultimately it’s about getting you the game you expect and deserve.”
Command & Conquer has already seen extensive public testing, with Command & Conquer: The Ultimate Collection customers and successful registrants invited to playtest the game.
Those who spent money during the Alpha test will be refunded within the next 10 days.
EA appeared to have big plans for Command & Conquer, with the title being one of the major games featured during its Gamescom press conference. It also had an extensive DLC plan, including the option to integrate additional Command & Conquer universes and a single-player campaign following its release.
But despite the free-to-play game’s cancellation, the series will live on, Victory suggests.
“We believe that Command & Conquer is a powerful franchise with huge potential and a great history, and we are determined to get the best game made as soon as possible,” it continued. “To that end, we have already begun looking at a number of alternatives to get the game back on track. We look forward to sharing more news about the franchise as it develops. Thank you again for your participation and support.”
Despite the team’s comments, though, Victory will not be the developer leading the charge on the new product.
“The team at Victory Games will be disbanded,” an EA spokesperson told ]Polygon. “Wherever possible, we are working to help these talented people find other opportunities within EA.”
What form the new game will take, though, is unclear. Back in August, Victory Games’ general manager Jon Van Caneghem told VideoGamer.com that he believed “the days of a boxed [Command & Conquer] release are probably over”.
Source: commandandconquer.com, polygon.com
