starbreeze posts

Starbreeze Studios, who created its own graphics engines for previous titles like The Darkness and The Chronicles of Riddick game series, is now working with a third party graphics engine for its future projects. The Sweden-based developer announced today a new multi-year deal to use Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 technology for its future game titles.

So far Starbreeze has yet to reveal what game it is working on next although the developer has been linked via rumor for years as working on a revival of the Syndicate series for publisher Electronic Arts. A previously announced game that would have been an adaptation of the Jason Bourne spy movies and novels was canceled by EA.

It's looking like we won't be seeing a new Jason Bourne-based game anytime soon. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a previously announced game from Electronic Arts based on the spy movie and book series is now on the shelf. Starbreeze Studios was supposed to develop the game but this week Starbreeze said one of their two EA projects was canceled and a spokesperson for EA confirmed they do not currently have any Bourne game projects in the works.

EA execs have already said they plan to cut a number of their in-development games in order to save money. Meanwhile Starbreeze continues to work on their other project for EA which is rumored to be a revival of the classic Syndicate series.

Electronic Arts continues to shut down game projects with word coming this week that the publisher has canceled one of their two planned games with developer Starbreeze Studios. The Sweden-based company made the announcement themselves on their web site.

The announcement does not state which of the two EA projects was canceled, saying only that the canceled game was still in pre-production. The other still active game project is now in full production, according to Starbreeze, and it does not plan to lay off any of their team members as a result of the other game's shut down. Starbreeze and EA announced in late 2008 that they planned to release a game based on the Jason Bourne spy franchise. There were also unconfirmed rumors that the two were working on a revival of the Syndicate game franchise.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena has been out for a while now, but those curious about how developer Starbreeze was able to bring the game from concept to reality can find out in this video.

Download HD Assault on Dark Athena 'From Concept to Final' Dev Diary (688 MB)
Check out all Assault on Dark Athena downloads

It's a game that many PC gamers fans have wanted to see revived and a new rumor suggests it may actually happen. Gamesindustry.biz is reporting via unnamed sources that Electronic Arts may be publishing a new version of Syndicate, the sci-fi tactical action game that was first released in 1993 via the now defunct Bullfrog Productions.

According to their story, the new Syndicate game is being developed under the code name of Project Redline at developer Starbreeze. The Chronicles of Riddick game developer supposedly has been working on the game since August 2007. However the article states the new Syndicate game is still a long way from completion as Starbreeze is also working with EA on a previously announced game using the Jason Bourne license. EA has not yet officially commented on the report.

This developer diary video for The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena goes in-depth on the creative forces behind the game's development. It also sheds some light on some of the motivations behind putting the it all together.

Download Asssault on Dark Athena Developer Diary #1 (430 MB)
Check out all Assault on Dark Athena downloads

Earlier today Atari announced the release dates for the upcoming Starbreeze Studios remake-sequel The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Their press release announced that demos for the game would be released this March for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions but there was no word on a PC demo.

Today we have officially confirmed with an Atari PR rep that that there will indeed be a PC demo of Assault on Dark Athena released as well. It's not yet known if the PC demo will be released alongside the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions nor what content will be contained. The full version is due for release in the US on April 7 and for Europe on April 24.

Atari picked up the rights to publish The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena last year and now developer Starbreeze has been working hard to finish the remake-sequel to the the acclaimed 2004 first person action game. Today Atari announced that the title would be released on April 7 in the US with April 24 the target release date for Europe. Atari also announced demos would be released in March for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions but there's no word on a PC demo yet.

As we have mentioned before, the game contains a graphical remake of the 2004 movie game Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay along with a separate 10-11 hour single player campaign, Assault on Dark Athena. The game will also add multiplayer modes for the first time. For more info make sure to check out our hands-on preview of the single player portion.

When a development studio announces plans to remake a classic game, the title's hardcore fans experience a bevy of emotions comparable to rekindling a fiery romance. Both situations require important factors to be considered. Will the attraction that first ignited your passion still burn with the same intensity? What daring new moves has your former flame added to her romantic repertoire? Will there be exciting new areas to explore, or will she simply wear a new dress to conceal aesthetics that have classic appeal, but are ultimately tired when compared to the beauties of today?

With The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, developer Starbreeze aims to give you everything you loved about last generation's Escape from Butcher Bay, but with so much more than a fresh coat of paint. To put it bluntly, Dark Athena is the geeky girl with braces, ratty hair, a lumpy body and a great personality that you turned down in high school, only to find out at your five-year reunion that she became a Victoria's Secret model. Fortunately, that stellar personality is still intact, and she's willing to give you a second chance to see all that she had to offer back in study hall, plus five year's worth of sexy new additions.

A game that's been in limbo for a long time has finally got some life back in it. Some of you may remember that the acclaimed 2004 PC-Xbox shooter The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay was going to be remade by developer Starbreeze for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC with all new graphics, the addition of multiplayer and a new single player campaign called Assault on Dark Athena. However its publisher Vivendi Games, after briefly announcing it, put the game in storage.

With Vivendi Games now gone as a result of the Activision Blizzard merger, it looks like The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena now has a new publishing home in Atari. The company has just announced it will handle the publishing duties for the game for spring 2009. Again this game will have the complete Escape from Butcher Bay single player campaign with new graphics, an all new single player campaign and multiplayer modes for the first time. There's no word yet on what kind of multiplayer modes will be included.