10 Vaporware Games We're Still Wondering About
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VOICE OVER: Aaron Kline
WRITTEN BY: Aaron Kline
It's always sad when a game become vaporware and we've been wondering about the status of these troubled projects for a while. For this list, we'll be looking at games that were never released and seemed to have just disappeared. Our list of Vaporware games we're still wondering about includes "Everwild," “Beyond Good & Evil 2,” “Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2,” "Metroid Prime 4," and more!
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 vaporware games we’re still wondering about. For this list, we’ll be looking at games that were never released and seemed to have just disappeared. Maybe one day we’ll see some of these games, but most will never see the light of day. What vaporware game do you wish would get released? Let us know in the comment.
This game was full of controversy leading up to the underwhelming launch of the Realtime Experience app. “Abandoned” is a horror survival shooter that we know little to nothing about, but all the decisive lies and hints surrounding the game quickly had gamers go down the Blue Box rabbit hole. “Abandoned” was thought to possibly be the next “Silent Hill” or “Metal Gear Solid” title, but these rumors have been nipped in the bud. While hype for “Abandoned” has died down, the fact that nothing has been announced surrounding the title and it’s Realtime Experience app, it’s safe to say we may never see this game.
While we may end up seeing the new version of “Six Days in Fallujah” someday, we will never get to see the original 2009 version. “Six Days in Fallujah” is a tactical shooter that follows a U.S. Marine squad during the Second Battle of Fallujah. The original game was covered in controversy as the game is based on real events and shares stories from Marines, but with the events being rather close to current time, it could be seen as rather tasteless. In February 2021 we got the announcement that an updated version of “Six Days in Fallujah” is in the works and is expecting to release later this year, however we’ve heard little to nothing since.
When games switch developers mid course, of course it affects development, and in 2021 Bloodlines 2 changed hands to an unnamed developer. Bloodlines 2 follows a thinblood vampire as they attempt to take out the city's vampire groups. Bloodlines 2 was originally slated for March 2020, but has seen a handful of delays and currently has no new date, with only the release of Swansong in 2022 to keep the rabid fanbase at bay. There is still hope for “Bloodlines 2”, but as of now it looks like it will remain in the shadows.
We have no clue what “Everwild” is, but man it truly is beautiful. “Everwild” was announced in 2019 and since then we’ve only seen stunning cinematic trailers. “Everwild” is the next game from Rare following their success with “Sea of Thieves”. It seems to be set in a magical world full of beauty and wildlife. These trailers are heavily stylized with each trailer showing new parts of this unknown world and all the creatures that inhibit it. “Everwild” has sadly been completely reworked after the departure of the team's creative director, though they’re optimistically aiming for release in 2024.
Ubisoft has been canceling games left and right, but somehow “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake” is still hanging in there. Currently the remake is in some sort of development hell and constantly swapping hands. Originally “The Sands of Time Remake” was slated for January 2021, but now will simply be released when ready. Hopefully we’ll be seeing this game someday as fans have been craving for a new “Prince of Persia” game since the series last released in 2010.
It all started with a logo and ended right there. “Metroid Prime 4” is the next highly anticipated game in the Prime series. Announced at E3 2017 we have seen nothing other than a logo. Originally being developed by Bandai Namco Studios, but like most games on this list was shafted to another developer. In January 2019 we got the announcement that “Metroid Prime 4” is now being handled by Retro Studios. While this had fans excited as they made the original trilogy, this also came with the news of the game being reworked from the ground up. It would be nice to get Prime 4 on the Switch, but let's be honest we’re not seeing this game for years.
This game has been in development for more than 15 years! At least it can take pride in earning some manner of award. “Beyond Good & Evil 2” has been in some sort of development hell since 2007, and over the years we’ve seen many leaks and rumors. It wasn’t until 2018 until we saw what the game actually looked like. This new design showed off how wildly ambitious the game is. In 2021 during a Ubisoft financial report we learned that the development was progressing well, but as it stands, apparently it’s still stuck in the earliest of stages.
A highly ambitious survival game that was originally announced for the PS4, “Wild” hasn’t quite gone extinct…yet. “Wild” was going to be placed on a huge map with seasons and dynamic weather. While you could simply play as a human, the whole draw of “Wild” is the ability to play as any creature in the game. This means there would be unique gameplay for humans, fish, birds, and more. In 2020 the studio's lead retired from the games industry, but ensured that the development would still continue after his departure.
A game for a console that could easily be called vaporware as well, “Earthworm Jim 4” had retro gamers excited for the thought of seeing this space worm picking up the blaster again. It’s hard to truly know if this game was ever truly in the works thanks to the web of lies that came from the Amiico. I would like to think that the game was in development, but all we’ve seen so far is a running animation that looked great, but no actual gameplay. Might as well say adios to the silly space worm.
This one hurts me personally, “The Grinder” is a more mature and dark Wii shooter from the team that gave us “The Conduit”. We did receive an amazing trailer showing off the gritty grindhouse artstyle all while fighting off hordes of werewolves, zombies, and vampires. “The Grinder” was pretty ambitious for the Wii as there was going to be an online co-op which was rather rare for the console. While the game hasn’t been canceled, the development has been put on hold and has been since the original announcement in 2011.
“Abandoned”
This game was full of controversy leading up to the underwhelming launch of the Realtime Experience app. “Abandoned” is a horror survival shooter that we know little to nothing about, but all the decisive lies and hints surrounding the game quickly had gamers go down the Blue Box rabbit hole. “Abandoned” was thought to possibly be the next “Silent Hill” or “Metal Gear Solid” title, but these rumors have been nipped in the bud. While hype for “Abandoned” has died down, the fact that nothing has been announced surrounding the title and it’s Realtime Experience app, it’s safe to say we may never see this game.
“Six Days in Fallujah”
While we may end up seeing the new version of “Six Days in Fallujah” someday, we will never get to see the original 2009 version. “Six Days in Fallujah” is a tactical shooter that follows a U.S. Marine squad during the Second Battle of Fallujah. The original game was covered in controversy as the game is based on real events and shares stories from Marines, but with the events being rather close to current time, it could be seen as rather tasteless. In February 2021 we got the announcement that an updated version of “Six Days in Fallujah” is in the works and is expecting to release later this year, however we’ve heard little to nothing since.
“Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2”
When games switch developers mid course, of course it affects development, and in 2021 Bloodlines 2 changed hands to an unnamed developer. Bloodlines 2 follows a thinblood vampire as they attempt to take out the city's vampire groups. Bloodlines 2 was originally slated for March 2020, but has seen a handful of delays and currently has no new date, with only the release of Swansong in 2022 to keep the rabid fanbase at bay. There is still hope for “Bloodlines 2”, but as of now it looks like it will remain in the shadows.
“Everwild”
We have no clue what “Everwild” is, but man it truly is beautiful. “Everwild” was announced in 2019 and since then we’ve only seen stunning cinematic trailers. “Everwild” is the next game from Rare following their success with “Sea of Thieves”. It seems to be set in a magical world full of beauty and wildlife. These trailers are heavily stylized with each trailer showing new parts of this unknown world and all the creatures that inhibit it. “Everwild” has sadly been completely reworked after the departure of the team's creative director, though they’re optimistically aiming for release in 2024.
“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake”
Ubisoft has been canceling games left and right, but somehow “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake” is still hanging in there. Currently the remake is in some sort of development hell and constantly swapping hands. Originally “The Sands of Time Remake” was slated for January 2021, but now will simply be released when ready. Hopefully we’ll be seeing this game someday as fans have been craving for a new “Prince of Persia” game since the series last released in 2010.
“Metroid Prime 4”
It all started with a logo and ended right there. “Metroid Prime 4” is the next highly anticipated game in the Prime series. Announced at E3 2017 we have seen nothing other than a logo. Originally being developed by Bandai Namco Studios, but like most games on this list was shafted to another developer. In January 2019 we got the announcement that “Metroid Prime 4” is now being handled by Retro Studios. While this had fans excited as they made the original trilogy, this also came with the news of the game being reworked from the ground up. It would be nice to get Prime 4 on the Switch, but let's be honest we’re not seeing this game for years.
“Beyond Good & Evil 2”
This game has been in development for more than 15 years! At least it can take pride in earning some manner of award. “Beyond Good & Evil 2” has been in some sort of development hell since 2007, and over the years we’ve seen many leaks and rumors. It wasn’t until 2018 until we saw what the game actually looked like. This new design showed off how wildly ambitious the game is. In 2021 during a Ubisoft financial report we learned that the development was progressing well, but as it stands, apparently it’s still stuck in the earliest of stages.
“Wild”
A highly ambitious survival game that was originally announced for the PS4, “Wild” hasn’t quite gone extinct…yet. “Wild” was going to be placed on a huge map with seasons and dynamic weather. While you could simply play as a human, the whole draw of “Wild” is the ability to play as any creature in the game. This means there would be unique gameplay for humans, fish, birds, and more. In 2020 the studio's lead retired from the games industry, but ensured that the development would still continue after his departure.
“Earthworm Jim 4”
A game for a console that could easily be called vaporware as well, “Earthworm Jim 4” had retro gamers excited for the thought of seeing this space worm picking up the blaster again. It’s hard to truly know if this game was ever truly in the works thanks to the web of lies that came from the Amiico. I would like to think that the game was in development, but all we’ve seen so far is a running animation that looked great, but no actual gameplay. Might as well say adios to the silly space worm.
“The Grinder”
This one hurts me personally, “The Grinder” is a more mature and dark Wii shooter from the team that gave us “The Conduit”. We did receive an amazing trailer showing off the gritty grindhouse artstyle all while fighting off hordes of werewolves, zombies, and vampires. “The Grinder” was pretty ambitious for the Wii as there was going to be an online co-op which was rather rare for the console. While the game hasn’t been canceled, the development has been put on hold and has been since the original announcement in 2011.
