Remedy Entertainment And Tencent's Upcoming Free-To-Play Co-Op PvE Shooter Rebooted Into A Premium Game

Remember way back when Remedy Entertainment partnered with Tencent to develop and distribute a free-to-play co-op PvE shooter referred to as Vanguard?

Well, the company just announced a shift in its game development plans by rebooting the project into a premium game with a cooperative multiplayer component. It’ll now be known as "Kestrel." This decision is a result of "uncertainties associated with navigating the current rapidly changing free-to-play market and the risks involved", according to Remedy.

This reboot comes as the project concludes its proof-of-concept phase, allowing both companies to reassess the game's status and determine the next steps. The project will return to the concept phase, with a portion of the former Vanguard development team transitioning to Remedy's other ongoing projects. Meanwhile, the core leadership and selected members of the Kestrel development team will focus on shaping the game's new direction.

“We have made some great strides in free-to-play and multiplayer development in Vanguard,” said Tero Virtala, Remedy’s CEO. “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.”

He concluded: “We are creating another distinct Remedy game with Tencent’s continued support in making a great cooperative multiplayer experience.”