Sony’s planned reboot of the Twisted Metal franchise has been scrapped, with reports indicating that it was designed as a third-person shooter where players aimed to be the “last one standing,” akin to Battle Royale games. The title, which was being developed by the UK-based studio Firesprite, was canceled last year amidst a wave of layoffs affecting PlayStation’s workforce. The most recent installment in the Twisted Metal series launched as a PS3 exclusive in 2012.
Twisted Metal’s Cancellation and Concept Revealed
The live service reboot was intended for release on PS5, but was ultimately discontinued in 2024. While Sony has not officially disclosed details about the project, insights have emerged from the online portfolio of a former developer at Firesprite.
The developer’s website, referenced by MP1st, indicates they served as Lead UI Programmer at the studio, which is part of PlayStation Studios. Although the portfolio does not explicitly mention Twisted Metal, it refers to the game as “Project Copper.”
The description of the game outlines it as a third-person vehicular combat action title tied to a well-known PlayStation intellectual property, suggesting gameplay objectives aligned with the Battle Royale genre.
“Project Copper was a 3rd person vehicular action combat game, based on a classic IP owned by PlayStation, developed by Firesprite (PlayStation Studios). It featured 3rd person shooter mechanics integrated with vehicular combat, focusing on the goal of being the last one standing,” the portfolio states.
Additionally, the developer shared four blurred images showcasing UI designs and gameplay elements, hinting at the vehicular combat and third-person shooting aspects of the game.
The cancellation of the Twisted Metal reboot came as part of a broader reduction strategy by Sony, which involved laying off 900 employees from its PlayStation division and closing a studio in London in February 2024. These layoffs impacted eight percent of PlayStation’s workforce across various regions, according to reports from Bloomberg, and were linked to the cessation of the Twisted Metal live service title.
Earlier this year, Sony also terminated two additional projects, indicating a shift away from its commitment to live service games. These unannounced projects were under development at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games.
