Crimson Skies return uncertain, Dark Void for now [update]

by Jason Dobson { May 22nd 2008 at 8:00AM }

Update: Just for clarification, this is in no way a confirmation that a sequel to Crimson Skies is being entertained by Airtight or any other developer at this point, as much as we may wish it to be so. Jose Perez has not actually commented on any sort of timeframe for a potential sequel and has only said that Airtight is open to the idea of revisiting the franchise. Airtight is currently developing Dark Void, which may or may not be preventing the studio from working on a new Crimson Skies, or any other title for that matter. What follows is pure speculation.

Original:

["Crimson Skies return flight delayed by Dark Void"]

Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge was one of the first real champions for Xbox Live, and has continued to hover near the top of a short list of titles that genuinely deserve sequel treatment. Some hope was given for a follow-up to the aerial combat game late last year, after Smith & Tinker's Jordan Weisman bought up rights to the license, along with MechWarrior and Shadowrun. If you're like us, the question that has continued to circle overhead is, "When?" The unfortunate answer, judging from comments made by Airtight designer and former Crimson Skies dev Jose Perez, is not anytime soon.

So what's keeping it grounded? According to Perez, it seems that we can lay some of the blame at the feet of Airtight's upcoming sci-fi shooter for Capcom, Dark Void, though he admits that "if the stars aligned, it'd be something we'd definitely be willing to explore again." Publisher Smith & Tinker's Weisman seems to hold more certainty in the franchise's future, however, stating, "I'm absolutely confident of that, because I want to play it." Trust us, we do too.

Tags: airtight, crimson-skies, dark-void, smith-and-tinker

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

FOXHOUND @ May 22nd 2008 8:03AM

If they're going to delay it, at least add a possible yoke/control wheel peripheral too. This was a pretty fun game to play. :]

LaughingTarget @ May 22nd 2008 8:08AM

The problem with companies buying rights to a game is the game ceases to be what we enjoyed and turns into just another name. The title, even if sharing the same name, needs to be evaluated as if it were a new and untested IP. Sure, some factors could mitigate the risk, ie Bethesda with Fallout 3. Even in the case of Fallout 3, the new title may be great, but don't expect anything similar beyond the cosmetics of the setting. This is just how we'll have to treat any future Crimson Skies titles, as untested waters, not an anticipated continuation.

xGeneral DEATHx @ May 22nd 2008 8:11AM

Agreed...still, I'm hopeful that one day I may yet again get my hands on such technological marvels as "Magnetic Missiles"...High Road to Revenge was one of my all-time favorite Xbox titles. :-/

ill trooper @ May 22nd 2008 8:59AM

That was a fun game, but there was also something missing that kept it a 'play for an hour' rather than an 'oh my god the sun is coming up' game for me. I can understand LaughingTarget's sentiment, but remember that new people at the helm has also led to things like 'Batman Begins' and 'Casino Royale,' so sometimes it can help to have new forces behind a great idea. Maybe someone can take this game concept into the new and now frontier of matchmaking, gametypes, and stats with more complex gameplay.If you're really finding yourself really pining for that intense arcade flying combat, maybe try Warhawk on the PS3. Or just play Crimson Skies, if I recall it's backward-compatible on the 360.

*sidenote; that should be "We do too" at the end the there, not "we do to."

deaftly @ May 22nd 2008 9:41AM

I think this was one of the first xbox games I got, loved it from beginning to end. I would kill for a sequel. KILL

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ May 22nd 2008 9:52AM

I loved Crimson Skies. I really liked that Discovery Channel Special they had about the making of the game.

It's also the game that got me to sign up for Xbox Live so long ago.

brokenscope @ May 22nd 2008 10:05AM

Loved that game to death.

Cellien @ May 22nd 2008 10:24AM

Wow, I thought that screenshot was Warhawk (PSN)!

marklar @ May 22nd 2008 12:32PM

lol!

i hope you were being sarcastic...

Cellien @ May 22nd 2008 12:34PM

No not really, I just saw the picture first and thought it was Warkhawk. :P

offday @ May 22nd 2008 11:12AM

One of the huge unsolved mysteries of gaming is why do crappy games continually get sequels, while good games that people actually enjoy never see sequels?

Korova @ May 22nd 2008 11:17AM

It was a good game. I keep promising myself to finish it.

hiredgoon @ May 23rd 2008 9:25AM

I know it might sound like a stretch, but Crimson Skies is my favourite game of all time. I must have played through it at least 4-5 times now.

[begs for sequel - even if it's the same engine with new content] Dang i loved cruising around the Arixo canyons...