Splash Damage Cancels Transformers: Reactivate

Summary

• Transformers: Reactivate has been canceled after a lengthy and troubled development period.
• Some staff members at Splash Damage may be let go as a result.
• The studio is now working on an open-world survival game being built with Unreal Engine 5.

Transformers: Reactivate has been officially canceled by Splash Damage. At The Game Awards 2022, Transformers fans were introduced to a mysterious trailer for Transformers: Reactivate, a 1-4 player online game where Autobots and Decepticons would have teamed up to combat a new alien threat on Earth. Splash Damage, renowned for its contributions to multiplayer aspects of games like Gears 5 and Batman: Arkham Origins, had fans eagerly anticipating what they would bring to the Transformers universe.

However, following the initial announcement, little was disclosed about Transformers: Reactivate, except for some leaks and early action figure releases. These leaks suggested that the game would feature a Generation 1 roster of playable characters including Ironhide, Hot Rod, Starscream, and Soundwave, with action figures also showcasing Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. There were also rumors about the inclusion of Beast Wars characters, but unfortunately, these plans will not materialize as the game has been canceled.

Splash Damage announced the cancellation of Transformers: Reactivate after nearly three years of development fraught with challenges. In a statement on their Twitter page, the developer expressed that the decision to stop the game's development was difficult and that it might lead to layoffs among the staff as the studio shifts focus to other projects.

Splash Damage Cancels Transformers: Reactivate After Nearly Three Years

In their announcement, Splash Damage extended gratitude to the team that worked tirelessly on Transformers: Reactivate and to Hasbro, the owner of the Transformers franchise, for their support during the game's development. The response from fans has been mixed, with some expressing disappointment over the cancellation, while others had anticipated this outcome due to the lack of updates since the initial trailer at The Game Awards 2022.

In March 2023, Splash Damage revealed they were collaborating with streamers Shroud and Sacriel on "Project Astrid," a triple-A open-world survival game developed using Unreal Engine 5. With the discontinuation of Transformers: Reactivate, Splash Damage is redirecting its resources to "Project Astrid," though this shift will unfortunately result in layoffs among the staff previously working on Transformers: Reactivate. Meanwhile, Transformers enthusiasts continue to await a new high-quality gaming experience featuring Hasbro's iconic Robots in Disguise.

Summary

Produced By Hasbro and Takara Tomy