Immortals: Fenyx Rising sequel is inspired by Elden Ring and Wind Waker. Learn why it was canceled, gameplay differences between its predecessor, and game overview.
Immortals: Fenyx Rising 2 Inspired by Elden Ring and Wind Waker
Ambitious Game Based on Polynesian Culture
The highly anticipated Immortals: Fenyx Rising sequel from Ubisoft was officially canceled in July 2023, leaving fans sad and wondering about what might have been. Code-named Oxygen,
the game promised to be a distinctive and ambitious gaming experience, drawing inspiration from two venerable series: FromSoftware's Elden Ring and Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
Immortals Fenyx Rising 2 had intended to be a sizable open-world journey that would take players to a fictitious version of the Polynesian archipelago. The production was overseen by the Quebec-based Ubisoft team, which had worked closely with Polynesian consultants to guarantee cultural realism.
Breaking the Mold
One of the sequel's key goals was to separate itself from the standard Ubisoft template. Immortals: Fenyx Rising 2 is intended to provide a more immersive experience rather than inundate players with a map bursting with icons. Players would have to use their wits, track animals, follow the wind, and navigate by keeping an eye on the stars' positions in the game's sky to find their way. This change from the typical Ubisoft open-world design would have encouraged players to delve deeper into the game's world and explore more.
The art style of Immortals: Fenyx Rising 2 was likewise designed to be different from that of its predecessor. It promised a more realistic visual style, intending to deliver breathtaking images that would further envelop players in the environment influenced by the Polynesian culture. Additionally, the game would have done away with the narrator from the original game, indicating a change to a more player-driven narrative experience.
Gameplay Innovations
Fewer riddles and a greater emphasis on player choice were also fundamental to the sequel's design concept. Players were to go on a quest to win the favor of various Polynesian gods, gaining specific elemental powers and the ability to shapeshift as they proceeded. The concept of in-game tattoos reflecting the player's narrative choices was going to be a distinguishing feature of the game. These tattoos, also inspired by Polynesian cultural customs and the idea of "mana," would be a physical reminder of the player's journey and choices they made during the game.
Canceled to Concentrate on Other Projects
Many Immortals fans were disappointed by the cancellation, perplexed as to why such an exciting project was so abruptly abandoned. The decision to discontinue the game seems to have been somewhat influenced by Ubisoft's strategic change to concentrate on more well-known intellectual properties (IPs), like Assassin's Creed Red.
While the original Immortals: Fenyx Rising took just over a year to develop, the sequel faced a longer development timetable considering its ambitious scope and smaller production team. According to reports, there was a demo with several hours of gametime released internally in Spring of 2023, just as Ubisoft was at a crossroads for their strategy. The company had to decide between fully committing to the development and abandoning the idea altogether. It seems that they had decided to go with the latter.
