Bethesda: Prey 2 is “Simply Not Good Enough”

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Lee Bradley

Bethesda has explained its silence regarding Prey 2, saying that the game is currently “simply not good enough.”

Speaking to IGN, Bethesda's VP of PR Pete Hines said that the shooter sequel in development at Human Head just wasn’t up to scratch.

“We spent years and millions of dollars and a ton of effort trying to help Human Head make a great Prey 2 game,” he said. “What we said the last time was that it’s not up to our quality standards."

“It’s simply not good enough. We’re not going to just proceed blindly with something that isn’t good enough. We’ve been very specific about why, and we’ve been very specific about the whats. 

“When that gets addressed and changed or whatever, at that point we can give an update. But nobody’s disappointment is greater than ours. We spent a lot of time and money and effort trying to make this thing happen and support folks, but at the same time, you just can’t keep throwing money at it and saying, ‘sure, it’ll eventually work.’ 

“You have to have the discipline to say, ‘it’s not good enough. It’s not hitting the quality bar. Why isn’t it? We’ve been at this for a while, and what we have is not what we talked about.’ So that’s where we are.”

Hines also responded to the various leaks regarding Prey 2, suggesting that previous details contained within reports may have been inaccurate.

“I think all of the stuff that you’ve heard at this point has been from one side of this, and it’s been somebody putting spin on it, like, ‘here’s what happened.’ No, that’s your version of what you think happened. I haven’t heard from anybody yet that actually sat in the room. 

“There are quite a few folks at Human Head that I really like. Chris Rhinehart is one of the nicest guys I have ever met in this industry. He’s somebody I would consider a friend. I love hanging out with him. This isn’t anything to do with anything personal. I love that guy. I like a lot of the folks up there. It just has to do more with what the product looks like and if it’s good enough. 

“As we said in our last update, it’s not good enough. It’s not where it needs to be. When we have more info than that, we’ll let you know.”

Hines concluded by saying that the amount of discussion and interest surrounding the game does at least suggest that fans are excited about the prospect of Prey 2.

“It’s great that people have passion for something that we’ve talked about,” he said. “I understand that, in general, there’s a lot of cynicism about the developer versus the publisher. But sometimes you just have to step back and be practical about it. What is the chance that we have some amazing, unbelievable game and we’re just not talking about it for no reason? Zero. This is a business. We do have bills to pay and people to employ. They have families that they would like to provide for. 

“You don’t just keep throwing money at something or going down a path that you’re not happy about. You have to make tough choices. Again, when we have more info on it, we’ll be happy to talk about it. That’s what I can say for now.”

It’s merely speculation and rumour at this point, but Hines’ words do support the recent suggestion that Human Head is no longer working on the game. He may not have said it outright, but last month’s story about Dishonored developer Arkane taking over the project may well turn out to be true.

Comments
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  • Prey 2 looked quite good, in my opinion...
  • And yet they let Rage be released ?
  • @1 So did the Aliens: Colonial Marines demo. We don't know what was wrong with it but as long as it gets released and is a good quality then I don't mind waiting
  • They don't want to make the same mistake as Aliens: Colonial Marines did
  • What the actual fuck? What about Rogue Warrior?
  • I personally thought Prey 2 looked pretty bad, especially as it had no relevance to the first one from what I could tell. I mean where did the bounty hunters even come from? Apart from Tommy, more or less everyone that was taken by the aliens were killed, so how did things swap over? And I saw no portals in the game either. It was just a completely different game with Prey attached to the name.
  • @2, I liked rage?!
  • don't care! Bring another Fallout or Elder Scroll!!
  • I wish they did this with Brink.
  • @ 2 I'm inclined to agree. Rage just simply wasn't any fun.
  • @7 I liked the 1st disc, then realised the 2nd disc was the same content in same order all over again but in a new area.
  • Bethesda is my favorite game publisher/developer: they have a knack for making great games and publishing original content from other developers. If they say it's not up to par with their standards, then I trust that. As much as I'd love to see Prey 2 in the near future, I can hold off for now. Just bring on Elder Scrolls Online and a new Fallout and I'll be content :)
  • IMO I think Bethesda made the right choice here. They are learning from previous mistakes and insuring the release of top quality product. I have no complaints about that. I was looking forward to Prey 2 but I don't want to play a crappy game either. So I can wait until a proper up to standard version can be produced. Until then I will go back to dreaming of another Fallout game release :)
  • I liked Brink.
  • #14 Ditto.
  • Wish other publishers did the same Im one of the suckers that got Aliens CM & Fast & Furious Showdown.
  • #14 + 15 Same thought brink was a decent enough game, But only if you played online. The offline A.I sucked which made some missions ridiculously hard.
  • No offense to Prey, but I would have prefered a second Rage game. Lot more potential IMO.
  • Honestly is the best policy in this situation imo. No one wants a game hitting the shelfs that is of poor standard as everyone has mentioned being the case with alien colonial marines.
  • Gearbox...this is how it's done. @2 Rage was a good game.
  • The Blizzard way. If its not good enough, it aint going out. And it works, everything they touch is golden.
  • I simply do not trust Bethesda, and Prey 2 is only the most recent example of why. They can blame quality standards all they want; I want specific details. They did the same thing to Dishonored; I'd hate to see how bad it was prior, given how clunky the final game still turned out. Everything about this just screams fishy.
  • #16: Licensed games. Would have sold no matter how bad they were and so will the next installments. Prey 2 wouldn't have that built-in audience. I'd love to know the exact reasons behind cancellations in more detail than "This sucks" but NDAs exist. Lame.
  • @2, I liked RAGE, despite its ending.
  • Half of me wants to say "good for you Bethesda!" for sticking to quality control guidelines. The other half of me wants to say "you crazy hypocrites!" because of how many game breaking glitches their Fallout and Elder Scrolls release with.
  • @2 I agree, rage SUCKED
  • pray one was good, how hard is it to make a good sequal
  • Bethesda, why not? I understand your means but just let developers take time and possible make few changes. Bethesda, if you don't like then drop this game and give another publisher to get it. For god sake and look at many screenshots show Prey 2 and it is look awesome. Many of us been await for Prey to returns. Come on give Prey 2 a chance. If it is failed when it is released like sale or reviews then you can give up with game after all. But I think Prey 2 sale will be good. You never know when you release it though. My opinion, let developers take time through game and release in 2015 like you mention it before. I talking to Bethesda. Hahaha Nevermind if they not want this game just make sure give another publisher or publisher buy it if think still not enough. We need to save Prey 2!!!!
  • It is reminder me of Bayonetta 2 but it is bit different story but near similar. Nintendo saved it. I hope another publisher or Nintendo again. If Bethesda give up it. COME ON, BETHESDA!!
  • I last time to pushy, force and beggy. Please give it a chance. Some of my friends over Xbox Live they like Prey 2 too. I remember I talked them before. Many here and over internets that players look forward to it. There quite lots of upset players in IGN.com that said WTF!!! For 2015 release. Lol Come on. Please. Lol I felt like kid again cos beggy. Prey 2 show it's promises. :(:(:(
  • @24 - You mean lack of ending?
  • @14 Brink had awesome cinematic, Jumping, Running, Diving, Snipping and it's like WOW. In reality it was nothing like it. Same with Halo cinematic. It's like WOW WOW I got to have this..... (when it's finished) oh its Halo.
  • I think it is a good decision to DELAY the game, as I see eye-to-eye that it was not up to being any where near a good enough game...but scrapping it would be such a bad move. I definitely think it could be awesome!
  • Its good that they are putting more money in & waiting until it's worthy of it's price tag.
  • I liked the concept of prey 2. Good on them to not release an inferior game. Get it right and people will reward you.
  • So what's their excuse for Rage then? That game made e want my money back. Sure quality visuals, but nothing else going for it. And what about Brink? Prey 2's E3 demo looked sweet, but now its being remade from scratch by new devs? While I liked Arkane's work on dishonored, I wasn't in love with it. This was looking good, and different. But Now they're making it "Just like" something else. Just... Lame.
  • I never got into Rage. Don't know why, graphically, its one of the most superior games out there, and smooth FPS, and great idea for a story. Just couldn't get into it. Hope Prey 2 does make a show. Enjoyed the first one.
  • Prey used a modified Doom 3 engine. Prey's multiplayer didn't catch on as I recall.
  • @5 I agree wtf! Rogue Warrior is listed as the 5th worst video game ever on gamerankings.com ... IMO it was shit! and Bethesda scrapped the dev team from that and got rebellion to take over from scratch... what a wonderful job they did there... note the sarcasm. . . On a side note... Rage was a game that you either like what it offered or you didn't, Brink... well Brink was full of crap, terrible story, flow, AI imbalances, glitches etc...
  • Take the time you need. But please, deliver a great game..... oh what the... hurry up and release it already!
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