10 Biggest Missed Opportunities in Video Game History
10 Biggest Missed Opportunities in Video Game History
Introduction
The video‑game industry thrives on bold ideas, massive budgets, and high‑profile licenses. Yet not every ambitious project reaches its full potential. Some initiatives become costly footnotes—big investments that never materialized into the experiences fans expected. In this article we examine ten of the most wasted opportunities in gaming, from celebrity‑driven titles to abandoned engines, and explore why they fell short.
10 – Will Smith’s Video Game
When it was announced that Will Smith would headline a zombie‑survival RPG, the buzz was undeniable. The project, titled Undone, carried a rumored $140 million budget and was positioned as a flagship mobile title for Tencent.
- The game’s narrative barely featured Smith; his involvement was essentially a marketing hook.
- Gameplay was a generic survival‑RPG that failed to stand out in a crowded mobile market.
- Despite the star power, the title slipped under the radar and never achieved critical or commercial success.
The lesson? A celebrity name alone cannot carry a game that lacks substance or a clear identity.
9 – EA’s Ten‑Year Star Wars License
In 2013, Electronic Arts secured an exclusive, ten‑year agreement with Disney for the Star Wars franchise—a deal that seemed destined to generate endless blockbuster titles.
What Actually Came Out
- Star Wars Battlefront (2015) and Battlefront II (2017) – solid shooters, later improved after controversy over loot boxes.
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) and Jedi: Survivor (2023) – critically acclaimed single‑player experiences.
Projects That Died in Development
- Star Wars 1313 – Boba Fett action‑adventure, scrapped in 2014.
- Ragtag – Visceral’s Uncharted‑style narrative game, cancelled.
- Project Orca – Open‑world Star Wars title from EA Vancouver, axed.
- Viking – Battlefront spin‑off, never left pre‑production.
EA poured millions into the license but produced only a handful of games, leaving a trove of promising concepts forever on the cutting‑room floor.
8 – PlayStation VR 2
Sony’s PSVR 2 arrived with impressive hardware—high‑resolution lenses, inside‑out tracking, and a comfortable design. Yet the headset suffered from two fatal flaws:
- Sparse first‑party support – Few exclusive titles, and the platform lacked backward compatibility with the original PSVR library.
- Underwhelming sales – Initial launch numbers fell short of expectations, prompting Sony to halt further development and production.
Even though the device itself was technically solid, the absence of a robust software ecosystem turned it into a costly, short‑lived experiment.
7 – The Fox Engine
Konami invested years into the Fox Engine, envisioned by Hideo Kojima as a next‑generation, cross‑platform powerhouse. It finally powered Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, showcasing stunning environments and fluid performance on both PS3 PS4.
Unfortunately, the engine’s potential was squandered:
- Kojima’s departure left the engine without its visionary champion.
- Subsequent releases such as Metal Gear Survive offered only a mod‑style experience.
- The engine was later abandoned in favor of older technology for Pro Evolution Soccer titles.
The Fox Engine stands as a reminder that even a technically brilliant tool can become obsolete without consistent, high‑profile projects.
6 – Geomod 2.0
Geomod 2.0 debuted in Red Faction: Guerrilla (2011) and set a new bar for real‑time destructibility—players could demolish structures piece by piece with satisfying physics.
Why was it wasted?
- The sequel, Red Faction 2, shifted to a linear corridor shooter and stripped away the open‑world destruction that made the original iconic.
- No other studio adopted the technology, and Konami never reused it in later titles.
The result: a groundbreaking system that faded into obscurity after a single, under‑utilized appearance.
5 – Fallout Los Angeles
After the success of Fallout 4, fans eagerly awaited the next installment. Obsidian Entertainment, the creators of Fallout: New Vegas, pitched a sequel set in the post‑apocalyptic ruins of Los Angeles—dubbed Fallout Los Angeles.
- Bethesda declined the proposal, opting instead to focus on Fallout 76 and the upcoming Fallout 5.
- The decision ignored the strong fanbase for the New Vegas era, which the TV series later capitalized on.
By sidelining a proven studio and a compelling setting, Bethesda missed a low‑risk opportunity to revitalize the franchise.
4 – Deus Ex Remaster by Aspyr
Deus Ex (2000) remains a seminal title, but the original suffers from compatibility issues on modern hardware. Aspyr attempted a remaster, yet the result was a disappointing, visually dated port:
- Graphics resembled early‑2000s console visuals rather than a true high‑definition upgrade.
- Character models, lighting, and textures felt rushed and unpolished.
- Fans expected a comprehensive remake, not a superficial facelift.
The project illustrates how a half‑hearted approach can tarnish the legacy of an influential game.
3 – Xbox Legacy Studios
Microsoft created several legacy studios to safeguard its flagship franchises:
- 343 Industries – tasked with Halo.
- The Coalition – inherited the Gears of War series.
- The Initiative – formed for a Perfect Dark reboot (later cancelled).
While these studios have delivered competent titles, none have recaptured the magic of the original entries. Frequent leadership changes, corporate pressure, and a tendency to play it safe have left fans yearning for bolder, more innovative experiences.
2 – Activision’s Studio Consolidation for Call of Duty
Activision’s three core studios—Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer—produce a new Call of Duty each year, supported by a network of satellite studios.
The model has undeniable financial success, but it comes at a creative cost:
- Talented developers from studios such as Raven Software, High Moon Studios, and Bungie’s former teams have been redirected to work exclusively on Call of Duty.
- Original IPs and diverse genre experiments have been shelved in favor of the annual shooter.
- The industry loses potential gems that could have expanded the medium.
The situation highlights how a profit‑driven assembly line can stifle innovation.
1 – Krafton’s Acquisition of Unknown Worlds and the Sub‑Notica Fallout
In 2021, Krafton (the parent of PUBG) purchased Unknown Worlds—the studio behind Sub‑Notica—for a staggering $500 million, with up to $250 million in performance bonuses.
- The deal hinged on the success of Sub‑Notica 2, which never materialized.
- Krafton sued the lead developers for alleged breach of contract, accusing them of neglecting duties and planning an independent release.
- Legal filings painted both parties in an unfavorable light, and the massive investment yielded little to no return.
The saga serves as a cautionary tale about overpaying for a studio without securing clear, achievable milestones.
Conclusion
From celebrity‑driven mobile games to multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar studio acquisitions, the industry is littered with projects that promised much but delivered little. These ten cases share common threads: misaligned expectations, insufficient support, and an overemphasis on short‑term profit over long‑term creativity.
Understanding these missteps can help developers, publishers, and investors make smarter decisions, ensuring that future investments translate into memorable experiences rather than costly footnotes.
— Falcon, Game Ranks