I think how much it suffers, if it suffers at all, depends on how close to completion the game is. If all the creative work is done, then it shouldn't have that much of an impact. I'm guessing the framework has been done for some time, from things said and shown in the past, so I'm optimistic that they're down to finer details now. Still complex stuff, I'm sure, but most of the direction has likely been established.

"committed to completing" sounds pretty mercenary which is too bad. SOTC and Ico seemed like games that someone wanted to make, not contracted to.

*sigh* Sad, sad day. He's such an amazing developer. I'm starting to worry about this game now. He'll still continue working on development but with the amount of people jumping ship, I fear for its quality and vaporware status. I guess now we'll never see that first-person game he spoke off once. Shame.

May he enjoy his pet projects.

The game already suffered after all the delays. Wasnt this announced quite awhile ago. It's been so long I stopped caring.

Especially since we haven't seen much new about the game.

I bet it has a lot to do with how long this is taking to come out. The development cycle on this is almost getting dragged out into GT5 territory and the sales of this won't come close to that to make back some of that money and I don't think they can re-use the assets for it like GT5 either.

Japanese development cycles for certain studios (mostly Sony and Square-Enix it seems) are kind of getting out of control and this might be what needs to be done to get things rolling for these companies.

There seems to be a trend of big name game directors and producers leaving their big name companies. It's no longer uncommon to hear about someone leaving Capcom, Konami or wherever; it was bound to happen to Sony and their high profile internal studio as well.

"Who leaves in the middle of a major project"

Someone who realizes that the project they are working on sucks balls and the work environment has become awful and non-productive.

Happens everyday in jobs across the world.

@_@

All is lost...

Contractors usually get paid hourly, where salary works are screwed when working overtime. This might actually be more beneficial for the man. He didn't quit the project.

I hope it's almost done and doesn't suffer but this doesn't bode well. At least I have the hd collection to play through again.

This game will not suffer from this, I'm 100 percent sure about that. It's the last game in his trilogy, so he'll finish it: it's important for him as an artist.
NOUGHFF SAYDEH.

I'm fairly sure people like these wouldn't leave the company if the game wasn't done or very close to being complete, given their track record.

Sucks they're leaving, because without those two guys, I don't really know if it will ever really be Team Ico again without them.

*to

Last time a major figure left in the middle of a project, Mega Man Legends 3 got cancelled. Just saying.

This game was announced really long ago. The chances of this game finishing are dwindling.

My guess is Ueda and company are trying to make as perfect a game as possible, and Sony is trying to cut corners and force them to finish it ASAP so they can release the damn thing and make some money. Ahh, the eternal struggle between the creative and accounting department continues.

Not surprising.
Most major and big time developers seem to want to go off and start their own smaller company.

I imagine creative freedom is the main reason.

.....Facebook games called and they have a blank cheque in hand.......

Still hope the reason is because he wants his games to go multiplatform. The world at large is missing out on his genius when the only consoles they can be played on are Sony's. (Not knocking Sony, just more of a statement for the betterment of Gamer Kind)

Quick question when is this one coming out?

@mix nailed it on the head.

you know hes leaving to make social games like a good trend follower. sucks to see these creative minds giving in to stupid trends that will make them look stupid.
Keita Takahashi comes to mind.

DUde needs to move to company that apretiates talent SERIOSLY

Guy takes years to make a single game, so he'd fit in nicely at Nintendo, Konami, or Valve. It would be interesting to see what he did with his own studio though.

Maybe sony wanted to cancel the project and he left so sony will not have to pay out that much more money to him. Or maybe, and more possiblily he is just tierd of corporate work and will now go freelance or start a company where there will be no creative restrictions on him. Either ways he is one of my favirte devs and i whish him well.

Oh, and it's not coincidece that the producer left too. Their friends so they will run new company together.

@Tony
Didn't Capcom also deny his request to work on the game with a contract? Ueda as confirmed by Sony(and I believe himself) is still working on the game but though contract work. Not really the same thing.

BUT This could mean good for industry yo If he is contractin mayb it will be multiplat now SO more peeps can enjoy his work JUS SAYIN

I think the game will be alright. He's probably restricted at Sony.

I hate to say it but he's probably sick. I mean, that seems to be what people in that position tend to do. I hope that's not the case, though. Just sayin'...

Oh yeah? Huh...

*casually takes gun out of drawer. Loads it.*

Well, that is some very interesting news indeed Dale.

*sticks gun in mouth*

Thell my famiwy I wove vem.

*pulls trigger. Gun is jammed. Looks down the barrel to see what's the problem. Gets hit by plane going down*

"My guess is Ueda and company are trying to make as perfect a game as possible, and Sony is trying to cut corners and force them to finish it ASAP so they can release the damn thing and make some money. Ahh, the eternal struggle between the creative and accounting department continues."

How long has this game been in development? I don't think Sony is cutting corners in that case and more power to them if they are telling these guys to get their damned asses in gear. Force them to finish it ASAP? They're not exactly being punctual by the sounds of it. Sony's put some amazing faith into a team that makes games that don't sell very well (but are good nonetheless).

Show some respect for Sony and stop making them out to be the villains. I'm sure they could have done a Ubisoft with these guys and put the game into development hell like Beyond Good and Evil 2.

I really want Last Guardian, but this make me think of a few things.

I read a dev interview a couple of years ago in EDGE where someone (sorry this is a vague memory) said that, as much as they loved ICO and SotC, they would not want to work for someone like Ueda, who has expectations of staff that are not conducive to a work/life balance.

Also, look at the development time on Last Guardian. I think he is probably a creative genius, but a terrible manager.

And sadly ICO and SotC did not sell multi millions. Gran Turismo was a best selling series on PSOne and PS2, we are talking 10 million+, so Sony would be more willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, confident that the game would see a return. However, the harsh truth with Last Guardian is that when it comes down to number crunching, Sony cannot indefinately fund development of a game that may not break half a million sales.

holy shit first MGS Rising no info for a year then get's changed by a new developer which is a mix of feelings.

TLG Delayed and it seems 2 of the main key people are already gone.

i wonder what will happend to Versus XIII???

i was looking forward for the Big 3 titles.

i just hope all 3 will be released someday in the near future :\

Ugh..does this mean I won't get to solve puzzles with my giant rat-bird-dog? Ugh.

Unfortunately Ico and Shadow of the Colossus never sold that great. I could see how business folks might involve themselves if they were unsure of where this project was heading. In general games and developers seem to have a real problem with project management. I don't blame business people being irked that they have to pay a staff for another year due to delays. Developers need to get their shit together and plan better.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
@Tony Ponce: Don't even mention that! T_T

Well, that's quite upsetting.

This is such a shame games like this only come once a generation I remembered when I first played ICO it was an awesome experience and I never forgot it even though I only rented it once as a kid. Now I have the collection of both ico and sotc and these games deserve more credit than they recieve.

Fuck no. I dont care if there's no game I just want a bird dog cat thing that walks around being cute. Really , fyck the game, need the griffin thing .

No one seems to care here about what father33 said. Of Ueda fallin' ill. May be truer the it sounds, though. Hope it's not so, guy's very young.

Sadness. This game is on my radar, hope it turns out alright.

Isn't this game incredibly late on schedule? I was sure it was coming this year.

This concerns me. Well, I'll always have Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.

They might be leaving it because they realized too late they are making a crappy game and don't want to be in the credits or take the heat.

The End is Nigh....

I wonder if he and Miyamoto teaming up would yield a good result; could go either way.

No surprise, working for sony must blow balls.