Every new game release, whether it be a reboot of an old IP or an iteration on a successful franchise, is full of risks. EA took a chance by bringing Syndicate back to life as a first-person shooter in February, and while it was met with generally positive critical reception, the company sees the project as a failure.
“Syndicate was something that we took a risk on. It didn’t pay off – it didn’t work,” said EA Labels boss Frank Gibeau to CVG.
The Starbreeze-developed title didn’t even manage the crack the NPD’s top ten in the month it released, but its disappointing performance won’t stop EA from bringing old IPs back to life through modern technology.
“It doesn’t change my appetite for wanting to go look in the library and see what we have and maybe bring back some IPs for the next-generation,” said Gibeau. “That’s the nature of the business; some stuff works, some stuff doesn’t.”
SSX received similar treatment earlier this year and found both critical and commercial success, so there’s still hope in the concept of a reboot. Sadly, Syndicate just didn’t grab enough imaginations or dollars to come out on top.
Did you get a chance to play Syndicate? Do you think EA promoted the game well enough? Let us know what you think about this commercial flop in the comments below.