The follow-up to Red Faction: Guerrilla met its demise among other Embracer project cancellations, according to previous Fishlab developers

According to Rock Paper Shotgun's information, earlier revelations indicate that a number of ex-Fishlabs developers verified that Embracer Group's cancellation of various studios and endeavors due to a failed financial infusion also halted the progress of a Red Faction sequel. The sequel was touted as a "reliable follow-up," focusing heavily on the demolition of structures.

The intent of the team was to expand upon Volition's initial concept into a more open-ended immersive simulation in the vein of titles like Arkane Austin's Dishonored. It was speculated that the narrative would take place a hundred years following the events of Guerrilla, showcasing new vistas and reinvented locales. As a female lead, players would have orchestrated an undercover rebellion within the envisioned game, establishing coalitions and sects through their journey.

Rock Paper Shotgun details that Fishlabs had proposed the Red Faction installment to their parent company, Plaion, multiple times, but the greatest effort was made in mid-November 2023. This pitch included a live-action role-play element, where, along with showing a 'mock-up trailer,' some team members impersonated in-game personas.

In a crafted event, the Red Faction insurgency faction 'interrupted' a presentation by a morally dubious corporate spokesperson. While Plaion initially expressed encouragement about the concept, and insiders had a strong belief in the game's approval, this positivity was fleeting, per the report by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell, a news editor for RPS who previously contributed to Eurogamer.

When decision-makers were gathered in November to determine the fate of the project, the divide in opinion led to the abrupt cessation of the sequel.

Detailed by a confidential informant at Fishlabs, RPS was told about a staff meeting where the team was informed of the project's end. Emotions ran high among the company leaders, tears were shed, and a Plaion representative was present. Subsequently, reductions swept through the company, resulting in the discharge of 50 individuals from various sectors, including level design, narrative creation, overall game design, coding, audio, visual arts, and animation.

Most former Fishlabs developers contribute to other Embracer projects as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Previously, we disclosed that Embracer Group, having decreased its workforce by 4532 in the last fiscal period, seeks to integrate AI to bolster its workforce, claiming that artificial intelligence can substantially uplift game development processes by streamlining the use of resources.

Tomas Hedman, who oversees privacy and AI governance at Embracer, emphasizes in the company's most recent yearly summary the hazards of forgoing AI, noting the competitive edge it could grant them over others in the industry. Hedman affirms that avoiding AI poses a threat of being at a strategic disadvantage compared to rivals.

He outlines that the majority will progress with AI integration in various manners. Hedman clarifies, "Our priority is in the method we employ it, and that's the most vital aspect. Our goal isn't to substitute human roles with AI but to enhance them." He highlights this as the essence of Embracer's human-focused philosophy toward harnessing AI's capabilities.