Remedy, Tencent cancel multiplayer title Codename Kestrel

Remedy will instead focus on its Remedy Connected Universe.

Remedy has announced that it has cancelled Codename Kestrel, a multiplayer title that was being developed in partnership with Tencent.

“The decision to cancel codename Kestrel allows Remedy to focus more on the other games in its portfolio,” Remedy said in a statement. “Other ongoing game development projects will get experienced developers reassigned from Kestrel. In addition, the planned investment needs for Kestrel are removed and Remedy’s overall recruitment needs are reduced.”

“Codename Kestrel showed early promise, but the project was still in its early concept stage. Our other projects have advanced well and are moving to the next stages of development, and increasing focus on them provides us with benefits,” said Remedy CEO, Tero Virtala.

“We can reallocate talented Kestrel developers to these other game projects, and many of our support functions get additional focus on their operations,” Virtala continued. “This is yet another means to ensure that our game projects continue advancing well. I want to thank our Kestrel development team. Though we decided to discontinue the project for wider Remedy benefits, our team has done good work and provided us with valuable learnings.”

Virtala also called Tencent “very professional and supportive,” in the midst of this cancellation.

Kestrel was first codenamed Vanguard before a redesign and transition from a free-to-play to premium release back in November last year.

With Kestrel out of the way, Remedy continues work on a number of titles including the Max Payne 1 & 2 remake, Control 2, Alan Wake 2 DLC and Condor, a co-op multiplayer title set in the Control universe.