The Real Story Behind Titanfall 3's Cancellation: Blame Respawn, Not Electronic Arts

In a surprising turn of events, it has come to light that Respawn Entertainment, not Electronic Arts, made the decision to cancel Titanfall 3. According to a recent interview with former Call of Duty and Titanfall designer Mohammad Alavi, Respawn chose to pull the plug on the much-anticipated sequel and focus on the development of the popular battle royale game Apex Legends. What's even more shocking is that Electronic Arts was reportedly unaware of the cancellation for six whole months.

Alavi divulged that Respawn had been working on Titanfall 3 for about ten months, with a "first playable" build already in progress. However, the multiplayer team faced challenges in addressing issues that had plagued the first two games, preventing them from becoming mainstream hits. Titanfall 2's multiplayer, despite being loved by fans, was seen as intense and overwhelming by others, leading to a burnout effect and limiting its long-term appeal.

The landscape changed dramatically with the arrival of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG). Inspired by the emerging battle royale genre, Respawn's developers created their own battle royale-style map using Titanfall 3's classes. This led to increased playtest participation compared to the standard Titanfall multiplayer modes, signaling a potential shift in the gaming market. It was during this period that the Respawn team collectively decided to pivot away from Titanfall 3 and focus on what eventually became Apex Legends.

In the interview, Alavi praised Titanfall 2 as his "crowning achievement" but admits that canceling the sequel in favor of Apex Legends was "the right call." The decision was made without informing Electronic Arts, and it was only after Respawn had a working prototype of Apex Legends that they finally revealed the pivot to their parent company. The initial reaction from EA was reportedly less than favorable, as they had acquired Respawn with the intention of capitalizing on the Titanfall IP and the anticipated release of Titanfall 3.

Despite the controversy surrounding Titanfall 3's cancellation, Apex Legends has become a resounding success for Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts. Meanwhile, fans of the Titanfall series continue to hold out hope for a potential revival of the franchise. In a recent interview, Respawn CEO Vince Zampella expressed his desire to see a new Titanfall installment eventually come to fruition, stating that it "has to be the right thing" before the studio greenlights the project. Time will tell if the Titanfall series will see a proper sequel, but for now, Apex Legends stands as a testament to Respawn's innovative capabilities and ability to adapt to changing gaming trends.