In a surprising turn of events, Rebellion Developments has reportedly canceled Project Archipelago, a Sniper Elite battle royale spin-off game that was first announced just four months ago. Initially pitched as an exciting multiplayer experience, Project Archipelago (also known as Sniper Island) aimed to bring the tactical gameplay of the beloved Sniper Elite series into a new format, with teams of players competing in a fast-paced battle royale.
The Sniper Elite franchise, which debuted in 2005, has been known for its brutal sniping mechanics, including the infamous “X-ray kill cams” that show off gruesome bullet impacts in real-time. With Sniper Island, Rebellion had hoped to tap into the live-service multiplayer scene, a significant departure from the franchise’s traditional single-player roots. However, despite the early excitement, the game is now officially scrapped.
According to sources from Insider Gaming, the cancellation of Project Archipelago stems not from development issues, but a lack of continued funding from Tencent, which had been backing the project. The decision to pull financial support is said to be influenced by the failure of Concord, another multiplayer project by PlayStation Studios. The hero shooter Concord was shut down less than two weeks after its debut, leading Tencent to reassess its investments in similar projects, including Sniper Island.
While the cancellation marks a disappointment for fans hoping for a new chapter in the Sniper Elite franchise, it has not impacted the development of other Rebellion projects. The studio is moving ahead with Sniper Elite: Resistance, a new single-player title slated for release in January 2025. Set in France during World War 2, Resistance will introduce a new protagonist and a fresh narrative that focuses on the French Resistance’s fight against the Nazi occupation.
For fans of Sniper Elite, the next installment promises to bring the franchise back to its roots, even as Project Archipelago fades into the background.
