VGC has reported, via anonymous reports from multiple development sources, that an as-yet-unannounced sequel to 2020’s excellent open-world action RPG, Immortals Fenyx Rising, has been cancelled before it was even officially revealed.
The game was apparently in development under the codename “Oxygen” at Ubisoft Quebec before Ubisoft leadership canned the project just this month, citing “perceived challenges around establishing the IP” in line with its current strategy of focusing its efforts on the most recognisable and marketable properties under its banner. Before the cancellation, it was widely thought that Ubisoft had bigger plans for the Immortals franchise.
Insider Gaming has also reported that it’s seen actual footage of Codename Oxygen, and that the sequel was to be set in Polynesia. The footage shared with the outlet reportedly showed that characters had the ability to shape-shift into different mythical creatures to allow the player to do things like fly, swim and control the elements. Insider claims the game was potentially less than two years away from release, with development having kicked off in 2021.
Immortals Fenyx Rising released to fairly positive reviews, cutting through early impressions that it was riffing on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild by delivering a genuinely heartfelt, charming, polished and fun experience that took the best parts of modern Assassin’s Creed and put them in a colourful and often hilarious setting.
We gave the game a 9/10 in our review along with a well-deserved #4 spot in our 2020 Game of the Year list, saying “Immortals Fenyx Rising is an epic adventure that perfectly leverages the rich, storied history of Greek mythology with a focused and honed version of Ubisoft’s now-ubiquitous open-world design. Deviating from the norm, the game’s unique design and structure help Immortals be one of Ubisoft’s most focused adventures and easily one of their most enjoyable yet.”
