It’s a well known fact that Microsoft blundered the launch of the Xbox One in 2013, focusing its effort on making the console appealing to mainstream audiences through TV integration and loosening its grip on the gaming market to create an “all-in-one” box. Despite this and many other issues, the system still managed to have a somewhat surprising launch line-up, with major exclusives like Capcom’sDead Rising 3and Crytek’sRyse: Son of Rome. Now, according to a noteworthy industry insider, Crytek is preparing to follow upRysewith a sequel that will launch on multiple consoles.
Ryse: Son of Romefirst released on the Xbox One as a launch title in November 2013. The game was an exclusive title developed by Crytek on its internally developed game engine, CryEngine, the same tool used to power its popularCrysisseries. The game is a third-person action title that originally started development as an Xbox 360 Kinect title under the name of “Project: Kingdom” before moving to the Xbox One platform andeventually releasing on PC in 2014too. The game was met with mixed critical reception at launch but has since become a cult classic among Xbox fans.
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While Crytek was disappointed in the game’s sales, that doesn’t seem to have stopped the developer from wanting to return to it, as rumors are appearing once again thatCrytek is currently developingRyse: Son of Rome 2. This comes from XboxEra host ‘Shpeshal Ed,’ states in the newest episode of the podcast “So this person told me, “yep there’s a newRysein development”. I can’t give you dates and I can’t give quarters of when things are happening, just that there’s aRysein development, and like I said I’ve been given pictures of stuff that leads me to believe this person is legit.”
Ed goes on to mention that the sequel will be multiplatform, a break from tradition from the first game which was exclusive to Xbox One and PC. This likely means that Crytek has acquired the IP from Microsoft, and could even be working on porting the original game to other platforms such as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch,as it did withCrysis Remastered. This could pave the way forRyse 2being a full Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 title, taking advantage of the CryEngine on the newest generation of consoles.
It’s not often that sequels to launch titles get greenlit so long after there release. At this rate,Rysehas gone an entire console generation without any sequels, follow-ups, or remakes, so it will be exciting to see how Crytek approaches reinvigorating such an old and niche IP that’s had just more than a little fanfare for almost a decade. Regardless, while the rumors are piling forRyse 2, it may be too early to expect an announcement at E3, as leaked documents from Crytek last year indicated that the game was only being pitched or in early production.
Ryse: Son of Romeis available on Xbox One and PC. It is also part of Xbox Game Pass.
