Respawn Entertainment’s Titanfall series made its grand debut in 2014, launching for PC, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game garnered acclaim for its unique, high-octane, mech-driven multiplayer gameplay. Yet, despite its innovative approach to multiplayer, it faced a significant amount of criticism for not featuring a single-player campaign.
Addressing this shortcoming, Titanfall 2 hit the market in 2016 with enhancements in both its multiplayer and single-player realms. The sequel was met with considerable praise, further amplifying the multiplayer experience and delivering a robust, emotionally resonant single-player campaign that struck a chord with many gamers. The success and reception of Titanfall 2 naturally sparked a fervor among fans, who eagerly began anticipating the arrival of a third installment.
Rumors of Titanfall 3 started to swirl when Vince Zampella, the CEO of Respawn Entertainment, voiced his interest in developing a new addition to the series. Yet, these hopes have remained largely speculative, as there have been no official announcements or plans revealing the development of Titanfall 3.
Adding to the mystery, former Respawn Entertainment developer, Mohammad Alavi, recently unveiled that Titanfall 3 had indeed been in development for about ten months. However, the project was eventually cancelled. The development team faced a creative impasse, struggling to bring innovative elements to the table while ensuring sustained player engagement, particularly for the multiplayer mode.
As the gaming industry was swept up by the rising popularity of the battle royale genre, highlighted by games like PUBG, the Titanfall team ventured into this realm. A project that initially began as a ‘Titanfall 3 classes’ concept map later morphed into Apex Legends, a successful free-to-play battle royale game set in the Titanfall universe. Despite its success, fans still yearn for the third installment of Titanfall, particularly for the return of the franchise’s iconic mechs.
Regrettably, Titanfall 2, despite selling over four million copies by 2017, was deemed a commercial disappointment by EA. This perception of failure is believed to be a critical factor in the franchise’s current state of limbo. Regardless, Titanfall enthusiasts continue to harbour hope for a return of the series, waiting for the day when they can once again pilot their beloved mechs.