Sniper Elite Battle Royale Game Canceled – Here’s Why
Rebellion Developments has reportedly canceled its plans for a live-service Sniper Elite Battle Royale game. Originally announced in August 2024, the project, codenamed “Project Archipelago,” was envisioned as a multiplayer spin-off of the critically acclaimed stealth-shooter series. It aimed to bring players together in a competitive sniper-focused experience.
The Sniper Elite series, which first launched in 2005, started as a modest World War II-themed shooter often seen as a “copycat” in the crowded historical shooter genre. However, it quickly carved out its own niche by focusing on precision sniping and incorporating a visceral “X-ray kill cam” that graphically displayed bullet impacts on enemies in vivid detail. Over time, the series expanded its scope, exploring different theaters of war and refining its mechanics, earning a reputation as one of the premier stealth shooters. In addition to the mainline games, Rebellion also dabbled in horror with the successful Zombie Army spin-offs, where players faced undead adversaries in a wartime setting.
Project Archipelago, also referred to as “Sniper Island,” was intended to take the franchise in a bold new direction, pitting teams of players against each other in a battle royale format. However, less than four months after its announcement, the project has reportedly been shelved. According to a report by Insider Gaming, the cancellation was not due to development challenges but instead stemmed from the withdrawal of funding by Tencent, the game’s primary financial backer.
Insiders suggest Tencent’s decision to pull out was influenced by the poor performance of Concord, a high-profile multiplayer hero shooter published by Sony. Despite significant anticipation, Concord failed to gain traction and was shut down just two weeks after launch. The resulting closure of its developer, Firewalk Studios, at the end of October 2024, seemingly made Tencent more cautious about investing in multiplayer live-service games, including Sniper Elite’s foray into the genre.
Despite the disappointment surrounding Project Archipelago’s cancellation, Rebellion appears to be weathering the setback without any direct impact on its workforce. The studio remains focused on other projects, including the upcoming mainline installment in the series, Sniper Elite: Resistance. Scheduled for release in January 2025 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, this title shifts the action to Nazi-occupied France during World War II. The game will introduce a new protagonist fighting alongside the French Resistance, promising another immersive chapter in the franchise’s storied history.
While fans may lament the loss of a multiplayer Sniper Elite experience, Rebellion’s commitment to delivering top-tier single-player adventures remains unwavering.
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