As of now, there is no official confirmation that Outriders was canceled. However, there have been reports and rumors circulating in the gaming community suggesting that People Can Fly, the studio behind Outriders, faced internal challenges, including a reported "lack of communication" with publisher Square Enix, which may have contributed to delays or changes in development direction. It's important to clarify: Outriders was actually released in 2021 and developed by People Can Fly in collaboration with Square Enix and other studios (including Gunfire Games, which handled some aspects of the game). The game was not canceled. In fact, it has received multiple updates and expansions, including a major post-launch update called The Rise of the Rift in 2022. The game continues to receive support, and new content has been released, including an expansion titled The Last Wish (2023), and a full sequel, Outriders 2, is currently in development and expected to launch in 2025. So, while there have been longstanding rumors about tension between People Can Fly and Square Enix due to communication issues or creative differences, these were not confirmed to have led to a cancellation. The game remains active and well-supported. If you're referring to a recent report or statement, it may be a misinterpretation or confusion with earlier rumors. As of now, Outriders is not canceled — it’s evolving with a sequel in development and a strong player base.
People Can Fly, the Polish game studio behind Outriders, Gears of War: Judgment, and Bullestorm VR, has announced another round of layoffs following the official suspension of two major projects: Project Gemini and Project Bifrost.
In a heartfelt statement, studio CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski confirmed that the development of both titles has been halted due to a combination of external and financial challenges.
"Today we made a very difficult decision to suspend the development of Project Gemini and Project Bifrost — the relevant updates have been shared publicly," Wojciechowski wrote.
Reasons for Suspension
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Project Gemini (a partnership with Square Enix) was suspended due to the publisher’s failure to deliver a draft of the follow-up content rider to the publishing agreement. This document was critical for outlining future milestone terms and project direction. The lack of communication from Square Enix regarding their intent to continue or terminate the project further complicated matters.
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Project Bifrost, a self-published title, was suspended for similar reasons, including the absence of clear publisher commitments, coupled with an internal financial review that revealed insufficient cash flow to sustain development and secure the necessary funding for a successful launch.
Wojciechowski emphasized the painful nature of the decision:
"As a result, we must significantly restructure as a studio and reduce our team size — which is the most painful outcome. We deeply regret how these events have unfolded and sincerely thank everyone for their contributions up to this point."
Context and Background
This latest restructuring comes just months after People Can Fly laid off 120 employees at the end of 2023 — a move already described as a "scaling down" of operations. The studio had previously faced uncertainty after being caught in the crossfire of shifting publishing dynamics and financial pressures.
Despite these setbacks, the company continues to work on other initiatives:
- Project Echo, a collaboration with Krafton (developer of Battlegrounds).
- Project Delta, a partnership with Sony.
- Gears of War: E-Day, a title in development with Microsoft.
Additionally, the studio recently released Bullestorm VR, a remastered version of the classic first-person shooter, now available on Meta Quest and PlayStation VR 2.
Industry Reaction
The news has sparked concern across the gaming community, particularly given the growing trend of studios being forced to cut projects due to publisher indecision, delayed funding, or shifting priorities.
Square Enix has not yet responded to inquiries about the cancellation of Project Gemini. The absence of any public comment from the publisher adds to the tension, especially since People Can Fly had invested significant creative and technical resources into the project.
Final Thoughts
While People Can Fly remains committed to its core values and future vision, the cancellation of Gemini and Bifrost underscores the fragility of mid-tier studio independence in today’s publishing landscape. The studio’s ability to survive and innovate will now hinge heavily on the success of its ongoing collaborations — particularly with Krafton, Sony, and Microsoft.
For fans of the studio’s signature fast-paced, action-heavy gameplay, the road ahead remains uncertain — but not yet closed.
Stay tuned. The fight for creative survival isn’t over — it’s just changing form.
