The emergence of new footage from the canceled Prey 2 video game offers a tantalizing glimpse into what might have been. This fresh look is particularly intriguing for enthusiasts of the original Prey, which was launched in 2006 and has since become a cult classic in the first-person shooter (FPS) genre.
Unveiling New Worlds and Characters
Planned as a follow-up to the influential Prey, Prey 2 promised to expand significantly on its predecessor's universe. The game was to feature open-world locations on the alien planet of Exodus and was set to introduce players to a new protagonist named
Despite high expectations, the development journey for Prey 2 was fraught with obstacles. In 2014, Bethesda, one of the game's main backers, announced its cancellation, citing the project’s inability to meet their quality standards as the primary reason.
Revisiting Human Head's Vision
Recently, a series of development videos have surfaced online, reportedly uploaded by David Halsted, a former developer at Human Head Studios, the team behind Prey 2. The videos offer a rare, evocative tour of what the game aimed to accomplish before its untimely cancellation. Among the clips is a playable E3 2011 demo showing some core elements of the proposed gameplay experience.
- The opening sequence: Killian emerging from a crashed airliner that had been abducted by an enigmatic alien construct known as The Sphere.
- A flythrough demonstration of the Undercity, an intricate locale set within the depths of Exodus.
- An early sequence showcasing a high-tension chase scene that aimed to highlight the game's fast-paced action.
- A succinct demonstration of the Agile Combat system, which promised to revolutionize player movement within the game’s environments.
For many fans of the original Prey, these videos evoke both nostalgia and a sense of loss for the sequel that never saw the light of day. The cancellation of Prey 2 was a significant disappointment for those who had been eager to see the continuation of the universe Human Head Studios had worked to create.
Fan Base and Future Prospects
Though Arkane's 2017 version of Prey took the franchise in a new direction, some loyalists of the 2006 game long for a return to Human Head’s original vision. However, with studio priorities having shifted, the prospect of Prey 2 being revived in its intended form remains unlikely.
As new details continue to emerge about what could have been, the legacy of Prey 2 serves as a poignant reminder of the creative challenges and commercial realities inherent in the gaming industry. Despite its cancellation, Prey 2 still captivates the imagination of those who wonder what might have been an extraordinary chapter in gaming history.
