Take-Two Interactive can boast that titles like GTA V or NBA 2K22 are at the top, all is not rosy for everyone. Hangar 13 can, it seems, testify to this.
In his latest financial results, Take-Two Interactive reveals that it recorded a loss of $ 53 million. This is the consequence of the decision not to pursue the development of an unannounced title. Cancellations are commonplace. But with such an expense, one can imagine that there is a crisp story to be told. This is what articles by Jason Schreier for Bloomberg and Ethan Gach for Kotaku.
A disenchanted Hangar?
Under the code name Volt, born Rhapsody, hid a game designed by Hangar 13. The Californian studio to which we owe Mafia 3 plancied on this new license which was to be a cooperative action game oriented game-service since 2017 But according to the sources of our colleagues, the departures, reboots of the project, technical problems and the health situation did not lead to anything satisfactory.
More than 200 people would be affected by this disappointment. Haden Blackman, head of Hangar 13, warned them, via an email obtained by Kotaku. The site also obtained a comment from a spokesperson for 2K Games. This confirms:
The latest Hangar 13 project was ambitious and creatively exciting. When we are looking for new intellectual property, sometimes we may come across situations that require cancellation. We encourage our teams to pursue their passions and take creative risks, balanced by prudent business and financial decisions and our unwavering commitment to providing the best entertainment experiences.
We have full confidence in the management and development team of Hangar 13 and believe that they can and will achieve critical and commercial successes in the future. The management of Hangar 13 works closely with 2K to ensure that the members of the Hangar 13 team continue to do meaningful work, whether as part of Hangar 13 or in one of our other teams in development.
Founded in 2014, Hangar 13 had to face an uninspiring Metacritic at the release of Mafia 3. Then suffered the refusal of the bosses to embark on a fourth episode. What traces will this new setback leave? Will the studio find itself condemned to operate as reinforcements for others? According to Schreier, his future will be discussed this Thursday, November 4, 2021.