Sleeping Dogs Dev Working on a New Free-to-Play Title

[Steven Bogos]

Sleeping Dogs Dev Working on a New Free-to-Play Title

Canadian studio United Front Games has signed a deal with Nexon America to publish a new free-to-play title.

Since developing Sleeping Dogs back in 2012, we haven't really heard too much from developer United Front Games. There where some whispers that they were developing something called "Triad Wars", and we saw a Sleeping Dogs HD [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/135436-Report-Sleeping-Dogs-HD-Spotted-for-PS4-Xbox-One] pop up briefly, but neither of those projects have shown themselves. What has now been confirmed, though, is that United Front will be working with Nexon America to develop some sort of free-to-play title.

"We can't wait to unveil our new title with Nexon America - we're confident it's going to be a smash hit," said UFG boss Stephen van der Mescht. Van der Mescht didn't offer any information on what the game would be, but Nexon is talking it up as a triple-A quality free-to-play title. What we can rule out though is a title in the Sleeping Dogs universe, as publisher Square Enix owns the rights to that franchise.

This news, while normally nothing out of the ordinary, is a bit concerning considering we still haven't heard any new information on Triad Wars, which was a no-show at this year's E3, despite United Front stating it would be revealed to the public some time in 2014.

Nexon is probably more known for its South Korean branch, which produces some of the most popular online free-to-play titles in the country. It has been stepping up its efforts to breach the western market in recent times, with projects such as Dirty Bomb/Extraction [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/134782-Extraction-Formerly-Dirty-Bomb-is-Now-Dirty-Bomb-again].

Source: Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-26-sleeping-dogs-dev-making-free-to-play-game-for-2015]

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[Lunar Templar]

Really? They threw in with Nexon NA? Do they not know how shit Nexon is as a company

 

[Vault101]

aw...I was hoping for a sleeping dogs 2

 

[RealRT]

>Sleeping Dogs dev
Yaaaaaay!
>free-to-play title
Fuck!

Man, there's nothing I despise more than free to play multiplayer games. Alhtough, wait, there is: full-60$ multiplayer-only games.

 

[Lightknight]

Well, hopefully this trend of throwing good developers into garbage games will end in a few years. You can differentiate on cost or quality and free-to-play simply doesn't scream quality. I want free to play when I'm on a phone. I want real quality content when I'm on a console or pc.

 

[youji itami]

Really? They threw in with Nexon NA? Do they not know how shit Nexon is as a company

It's not like they have lots of choices it either self funded which if they fail could kill the company, get a publisher to finance there game (which seems to be harder and harder as they focus on fewer projects) or make a game a publisher wants them to make which seems to be the case here which does have benefits of giving them money with the lease risk.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Really? They threw in with Nexon NA? Do they not know how shit Nexon is as a company

It's not like they have lots of choices it either self funded which if they fail could kill the company, get a publisher to finance there game (which seems to be harder and harder as they focus on fewer projects) or make a game a publisher wants them to make which seems to be the case here which does have benefits of giving them money with the lease risk.

Self funding and publishing, all risks involved, would have been better the crawling to a company that's actually worse then EA.

 

[Something Amyss]

aw...I was hoping for a sleeping dogs 2

Well, they haven't canceled it yet. Triad Wars may still live.

 

[youji itami]

Really? They threw in with Nexon NA? Do they not know how shit Nexon is as a company

It's not like they have lots of choices it either self funded which if they fail could kill the company, get a publisher to finance there game (which seems to be harder and harder as they focus on fewer projects) or make a game a publisher wants them to make which seems to be the case here which does have benefits of giving them money with the lease risk.

Self funding and publishing, all risks involved, would have been better the crawling to a company that's actually worse then EA.

Maybe to you but I would rather have a paycheck 6 months from now.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Maybe to you but I would rather have a paycheck 6 months from now.

It's working for Digital Extremes, so it could have worked for them if they'd have enough back bone to try, or faith in their project.

NOW, they'll have to make all kinds of compromises to make sure Nexon gets paid, which, given how Nexon is handling its on games, will likely end up hurting the game in the long run and drive people away.

Hell, those of us who know our way around the F2P space KNOW how shit Nexon is and will likely give the game a pass for no other reason then its under their banner.