"Canceled Twisted Metal Game Blended Vehicular Combat, Shooting, and Battle Royale, Developer Reveals"

Exciting yet bittersweet news has emerged for fans of the iconic Twisted Metal series. Recent leaks have revealed that Sony's UK studio, Firesprite, was working on a new installment titled Project Copper, which aimed to revitalize the franchise with a unique blend of vehicular combat and battle royale mechanics. These intriguing details came to light through screenshots posted by a former UI developer at Firesprite on their online portfolio, although the images were blurred and marked "Under NDA."

Project Copper was described as a "third-person vehicular action combat game" rooted in the classic PlayStation IP, Twisted Metal. The game would have incorporated third-person shooter elements alongside its signature vehicle combat, with the goal of being the last player standing. Unfortunately, Sony reportedly canceled this promising project during mass layoffs announced in February 2024, even though the game had not yet been officially greenlit.

The cancellation of Project Copper reflects a broader shift at Sony away from live service games. This strategic pivot follows the company's earlier aggressive push towards such titles. Notably, Naughty Dog ceased development on The Last of Us Online in December 2023, citing the need to maintain focus on future single-player projects. Similarly, despite the success of Arrowhead's Helldivers 2, which sold 12 million copies in just 12 weeks, Sony's live service venture, Concord, was a colossal failure, leading to its quick shutdown and the closure of its developer.

Adding to the string of cancellations, Sony also axed two other unannounced live service games in January, including a God of War project at Bluepoint and another at Bend, the studio behind Days Gone. While fans may have to wait longer for a new Twisted Metal game, they can look forward to the continuation of the Twisted Metal TV series on Peacock, starring Anthony Mackie. The first season, which received an impressive 8/10 from IGN, was praised for its humorous yet thoughtful mix of comedy and violence.

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