Chorus dev Fishlabs’ Red Faction game among canceled Embracer projects

German developer Fishlabs was developing a new Red Faction game, at least until parent company Embracer canceled the project.

According to a new report from RockPaperShotgunTHE Chorus The studio was looking to revive the destructive open-world franchise. It was one of two projects made by Fishlabs, the first being an original sci-fi game canceled months before.

This new Red Faction game was apparently in the works near the shutdown of series creator Embracer. Volition Last year. Sources called it “macabre” at the outlet, but Fishlabs reportedly had real interest in its sci-fi setting.

Personnel from the abandoned original game (“Project Black”) were transferred to Red Faction, then named “Project White” and dubbed a “sideline” since its team was responsible for launching games based on the Embracer IP.

Ultimately, Fishlabs wanted to make a “safe sequel” along the lines of 2009’s. Red Faction: Guerrilla. Despite this, it is also claimed that the team considered incorporating immersive simulation elements such as open-ended gameplay styles and pitched the game to the Embracer label. Plaion via fake trailers and cosplays worldwide.

Fishlabs’ Red Faction project broke the studio

Morale on “Project White” was considered rather good and Plaion appreciated the pitches presented. But a 50/50 internal vote led to the immediate cancellation of the project, and it is claimed that Fishlabs management was asked to fire “nearly everyone” not working on a project in development.

The following weekend, 50 Fishlabs employees were fired, with Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors attributing the decision to a “lack of approval and funding.”

According to RPS, Fishlabs now operates as a cross-development team to support other studios. Chorus, which was released in 2021, was considered “profitable” for the studio in particular, but not what Embracer expected commercially.

A more in-depth look at Fishlabs, how Embracer runs its studios, and the “troubled” development of “Project Black” can be read here.