According to a new rumor, a sequel to Xbox One console exclusive Ryse: Son of Rome may currently be in production. Crysis developer Crytek produced the third-person action adventure to release alongside the Xbox One in November 2013 as a launch title.
Microsoft and Crytek famously unveiled Ryse as a Kinect-only, first-person experience for Xbox 360. During development, however, the companies abandoned the 360 version, switched the perspective to third-person, and made Kinect a substantially less important aspect of the gameplay. Not too long after the project's late 2013 launch, reports began circulating about a follow-up that Microsoft allegedly canceled due to a dispute with Crytek over which entity owned the rights to Ryse. In the years since then, Crytek has endured more than its fair share of financial woes, though recent releases such as Hunt: Showdown and Crysis Remastered were shepherded under new leadership.
On the latest episode of the XboxEra Podcast, host Shpeshal Ed (via Game Rant) claimed to have heard word that another Ryse installment is in active development. The host couldn't offer much in the way of specifics, but said the individual who relayed this information "showed me certain things that made me believe they were on the level." He added, "this person told me, 'yep, there's a new Ryse in development." Shpeshal Ed once more reiterated that while he can't divulge dates and timelines, his source shared "pictures of stuff" that makes the claims seem legitimate. Interestingly, the host went on to note the project could be one of the multiplatform variety.
If such an endeavor is in the works at Crytek, a multiplatform release doesn't seem farfetched. After all, Crytek does own the rights to the Ryse IP, meaning the studio has free rein to do with the hack and slash franchise as it pleases. Whether or not Microsoft will try to secure the supposed sequel as an Xbox exclusive remains uncertain, however.
Crytek's hands have been full with more than Hunt: Showdown and Crysis Remastered in the nearly eight years since Ryse: Son of Rome's launch. Notably, the Frankfurt-based company has invested heavily in virtual reality projects. The first of such experiences, The Climb, hit Oculus in 2016, with Robinson: The Journey launching on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and Steam VR shortly thereafter.
Ryse: Son of Rome is available on PC and Xbox One.
Source: The XboxEra Podcast via Game Rant