Video Games
OtherSide Entertainment Lays Off ‘System Shock 3’ Staff, Leaving Future Development in Question
You would think that after that awesome teaser at GDC 2019 that things would be humming along at OtherSide Entertainment with System Shock 3‘s development. That seems to be far from the case, as according to an article at VDC, OtherSide has been bleeding employees.
According to the article, design director Chase Jones left OtherSide last week, joining other key staff including “System Shock 3‘s writer & director, senior designer, lead programmer, QA lead, senior environment artist and more” who have all either left or been laid off. There’s even a thread on the OtherSide forum that’s been cataloguing the departures since June.
So, what’s the cause of all of this? According to a former OtherSide developer on the RPG Codex forum, Starbreeze’s implosion after the failure of Overkill’s The Walking Dead, and subsequent selling back System Shock 3‘s publishing rights to OtherSide caused obvious havoc. OtherSide had been looking for another publisher, and was prepared to self-publish the game, but that obviously no longer appears to be the case.
“If Starbreeze hadn’t gone into crisis I think we would’ve delivered something interesting with some fresh and innovative gameplay, but a much smaller game than what people were expecting and inevitably disappointing for a sequel to such a beloved franchise.” As for if the project has been abandoned, the employee responded, “I don’t actually know what’s going on, but the team is no longer employed there.”
Retroware surprised everyone last year with the announcement that they’re working on a throwback beat-’em-up based on the Toxic Crusaders cartoon. Grab your mop and get ready: the side-scrolling beat ’em up game is heading our way later this year.
Toxic Crusaders is now available to preorder on Steam, with the game set for Fall 2024 release. Exact date TBA.
Developer and publisher Retroware has teamed up with Troma Entertainment to bring the characters from the 1991 cartoon “Toxic Crusaders” back, for an all-new, all-action beat ’em up for one to four players.
In the game, “When the evil Dr. Killemoff attacks, only one team of hideously deformed creatures of superhuman size and strength stands between him and his plans for global pollution: the Toxic Crusaders, Earth’s last, greatest and ugliest hope for survival! Battle across seven disgusting levels rendered in vibrant pixel art as you defend Tromaville from hordes of Radiation Rangers, mutated thugs and zombie chickens. The odds might be stacked against you but with awesome powers, a winning personality, and up to four-players on your side, the Smogulan Empire’s days are numbered!
“Choose from seven playable characters, including Toxie, No-Zone, Junkyard, Major Disaster, and Headbanger – plus, for the first time, play as Toxie’s musically “gifted” girlfriend Yvonne, and the mother of all mothers, Mrs. Junko, Toxie’s mom!”
Considering this is set in Tromaville, it’s a safe bet that we’ll see more Troma characters beyond the Crusaders here. Toxic Crusaders will also feature fully voice-acted motion comic cutscenes, featuring voice acting by TeamFourStar, industry veterans, and of course, Troma actors.
Check out the gameplay demo below for a closer look at the Toxic Crusaders in action.
Toxic Crusaders is coming soon to Xbox Series X + S, Playstation 4 + 5, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and the Epic Games Store. But you can wishlist on Steam in the meantime.
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