The revamped project, now dubbed “Kestrel,” will be transformed into a premium game with a strong emphasis on cooperative multiplayer features. Read on to know more.

Remedy Entertainment Announces Reboot of Vanguard Project as Kestrel

Free-to-Play Becomes a Premium Game

In a press release, Remedy Entertainment, the developer behind Alan Wake, Max Payne, and Control announced a shift in its game development plans. They are opting to reboot its cooperative, free-to-play multiplayer game project previously codenamed Vanguard. The decision to reboot Vanguard into “Kestrel” comes from uncertainties with the “rapidly evolving free-to-play market and the inherent risks involved” according to the game development studio.

Remedy Entertainment signed an agreement with its global publishing partner, Tencent, on December 28, 2021 to collaborate on the development of the game project. However, discussions between the two parties led to a new direction for it.

Proof-of-Concept Phase Expected to be Completed by the End of 2023

The project will return to a concept phase, with some members of the former Vanguard development team transitioning to work on Remedy's existing projects. The core leadership and selected team members from the Kestrel development team will focus on shaping the project's new direction to create a “premium game with a strong cooperative multiplayer component.”

Remedy and Tencent have jointly decided not to progress in the originally envisioned direction. However, Kestrel is expected to still incorporate many features, assets, and themes already designed for Vanguard.

Remedy Entertainment's CEO, Tero Virtala, commented on the change of direction, stating, “After a lot of careful consideration, we believe that taking on a new direction where the game will be built more around Remedy’s core competences is the right way to go. We are creating another distinct Remedy game with Tencent’s continued support in making a great cooperative multiplayer experience.”

The company has mentioned they’re aiming to define the next stages of the project in collaboration with Tencent, with a goal to complete the ideation phase by the end of 2023.

Sources:
Remedy's announcement

Charlene Aguila

A huge enthusiast of interactive games, turn-based RPGs, and horror-survivals that let you fire a gun. Her love for gaming started with the Shin Megami Tensei franchise and Dino Crisis. Although she'd try any game there is in the world, she will always have the biggest room in her heart for titles..