It appears that Supermassive Games — the studio behind acclaimed narrative-driven horror titles like Until Dawn, The Quarry, and the Dark Pictures Anthology — has officially shelved development of an unannounced Blade Runner project, reportedly titled Blade Runner: Time To Live, according to a report by Insider Gaming.
Key Details of the Cancelled Project:
- Title: Blade Runner: Time To Live
- Setting: 2065, in a near-future neo-noir world
- Protagonist: So-Lange, a Nexus-6 replicant, who is assigned to eliminate a rogue replicant leader — only to be betrayed and left stranded in a hostile urban landscape.
- Genre: Cinematic action-adventure with heavy emphasis on narrative, stealth, combat, exploration, and detective work.
- Gameplay Style: A blend of tense stealth, visceral combat, and emotionally charged character moments, consistent with Supermassive’s signature "interactive drama" approach.
- Runtime: 10–12 hours of single-player gameplay.
- Target Launch: September 2027 (on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and future consoles).
- Budget: $45 million, including $9 million specifically allocated for performance capture and top-tier talent — highlighting the studio’s commitment to cinematic authenticity and high production values.
Why It Was Cancelled:
The cancellation is reportedly due to licensing disputes with Alcon Entertainment, the rights holder of the Blade Runner franchise. Despite pre-production beginning in September 2024, development was halted in late 2023, suggesting unresolved negotiations or legal hurdles prevented the project from moving forward.
Notably, this marks a major shift for Supermassive, which had previously expressed strong interest in expanding into sci-fi and franchise-based IPs — particularly after the success of The Quarry, which leaned into rich worldbuilding and character depth.
Context: The Blade Runner Franchise in Gaming
While Supermassive’s project was scrapped, Annapurna Interactive — known for Outer Wilds, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Telling Lies — announced in summer 2023 their own Blade Runner game: Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth, described as their first internal development title and the franchise’s first video game in 25 years.
- Status: No updates since the initial announcement.
- Teaser: Minimal details; only a vague description of a "dramatic, story-driven experience" set in the Blade Runner universe.
This leaves the future of Blade Runner in gaming uncertain — with two major studios seemingly stalled on separate projects.
Supermassive’s Current State:
- Ongoing Projects:
- Dark Pictures: Directive 8020 (a new entry in their anthology series)
- Little Nightmares 3 (in development, though details remain scarce)
- Recent Challenges:
- Layoffs in 2023: Approximately 90 staff members were let go following a "consultation period" — a move that signaled restructuring and financial pressure.
- The studio has since been reorganizing, focusing on streamlining operations and prioritizing existing IPs.
What’s Next?
- Until Dawn (Film): Now in theaters, directed by David F. Sandberg (Shazam!), with a review available now — a long-anticipated adaptation of the original game.
- Industry Watch: Fans of narrative-heavy gaming will be closely monitoring whether Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth resumes development, or if another studio steps in to fill the void.
Final Thoughts:
The cancellation of Blade Runner: Time To Live is a significant loss for fans of immersive storytelling and sci-fi noir. Supermassive’s vision — a cinematic, emotionally driven journey into the final days of a Blade Runner — had strong potential, especially with such a large investment in performance capture and talent.
Yet, with licensing issues blocking progress and internal restructuring underway, the dream of a Blade Runner game from Supermassive now appears to be on indefinite hold.
For now, the franchise remains in limbo — caught between two high-profile, ambitious projects that have gone silent.
The city is still dark. The rain hasn’t stopped. But the story… may never be told.
