Respawn Entertainment cancels unannounced FPS game amid studio restructuring and Apex Legends challenges
The Cancellation Announcement
Respawn Entertainment has officially terminated development on a previously undisclosed multiplayer first-person shooter project, as verified by former studio employee Emilee Evans.
The project’s cancellation was disclosed through LinkedIn by Evans, who served as Executive Assistant and Production Coordinator during her tenure at Respawn Entertainment.
For several years, Respawn Entertainment maintained an active “Incubation Team” dedicated to developing new intellectual properties, with recruitment materials specifically targeting candidates possessing multiplayer FPS design expertise.
Evans confirmed the project’s termination, stating she had contributed to the initiative throughout the preceding year before its abrupt discontinuation.
“The unannounced incubation project I contributed to throughout the past year was officially canceled this week,” Evans publicly announced.
Respawn’s Development Challenges
This development marks the second instance of a Respawn Entertainment project being terminated prior to official public announcement within recent months.
A separate first-person shooter project set within the Star Wars universe faced cancellation in January 2024, coinciding with broader Electronic Arts workforce reductions. Initially revealed in 2022 under veteran developer Peter Hirschmann’s leadership, the project had generated considerable anticipation before EA Entertainment president Laura Miele confirmed its termination.
Electronic Arts implemented additional organizational changes affecting subsidiary studios, including the complete shutdown of Ridgeline Games, which had been spearheading development of a single-player Battlefield narrative campaign.
The development status of Respawn’s additional projects currently in production, particularly a single-player experience within the Apex Legends universe, remains uncertain. This project has maintained radio silence for an extended period, remaining classified within the “incubation” phase of development.
Apex Legends Performance Context
Apex Legends continues to serve as Respawn Entertainment’s flagship title, yet the battle royale has encountered significant performance hurdles throughout the past year, with consistent declines in active player populations.
Development team from canceled Project Blackbird establishes new ‘Sackbird’ studio
Current Apex Legends player statistics for 2025
Spectre Divide by Shroud ceases operations merely six months post-launch
The February release of Season 24 provided temporary momentum – though these gains appear potentially transient, as the game struggles to maintain 100,000 average concurrent players on Steam, a threshold it previously consistently surpassed.
Industry Implications
The cancellation of Respawn’s unannounced FPS project reflects broader industry trends affecting even well-established development studios. Several key factors contribute to this challenging environment:
Development Resource Allocation: Studios face increasing pressure to allocate resources between maintaining live service titles and developing new IP, creating strategic dilemmas for management teams.
Market Saturation: The FPS genre remains highly competitive, with numerous established franchises and new entrants competing for player attention and engagement.
Economic Considerations: Rising development costs and extended production timelines increase financial risk for new projects, particularly for unproven intellectual properties.
These industry-wide challenges suggest that project cancellations may become more frequent as studios prioritize proven revenue streams over experimental developments.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Respawn’s secret new FPS game has been canceled before even being announced Respawn Entertainment cancels unannounced FPS game amid studio restructuring and Apex Legends challenges