A Sniper Elite Battle Royale Was Canceled, And Now We Know Why

The CEO of Rebellion has shared some details on why a Sniper Elite-themed battle royale game got scrapped.

Last summer, we learned of the development of Sniper Elite’s battle royale game, but by November, rumors surfaced that the project had been scrapped due to Tencent withdrawing financial support. The studio responsible for the Sniper Elite series, Rebellion, never clarified the reasons behind the battle royale game’s cancellation. Instead, they concentrated on marketing Sniper Elite Resistance, a standalone title that came out in January. In an interview with The Game Business, Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley shed light on this project and its eventual demise.

In essence, Kingsley said, “That unique situation won’t be repeated. We don’t engage in work-for-hire projects. However, we had a strong interest in understanding Tencent’s operations, and they shared the same curiosity about ours. Ultimately, we decided to part ways because the market dynamics had changed significantly. Despite this, our relationship with them remains strong. It was a business proposition that didn’t reach the desired conclusion as we had hoped.

In the realm of battle royale games, where titles like Fortnite, PUBG, and Apex Legends are ruling supreme, it appears that Rebellion and Tencent doubted a Sniper Elite battle royale game would create a significant impact, given the trend’s longevity. However, Rebellion has experienced success after the cancellation with the launch of Atomfall in March.

In a broader context, Kingsley appeared hesitant about the possibility of being taken over by a larger corporation. “Will someone attempt to purchase us? I’m not sure. We wouldn’t be simple to acquire because it would require more than just money. It would need to feel like joining forces with something greater and better in some way,” he expressed to The Game Business.

At present, it seems Rebellion is determined to keep its independence, with the responsibility of steering the destiny of series such as Sniper Elite and Atomfall. Both Sniper Elite Resistance and Atomfall can be found on platforms including PC, PS5, X|S, and are also included in the Game Pass Ultimate library.

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2025-05-20 18:13