Remedy scraps experimental multiplayer project ‘Kestrel’

In late 2023, Remedy gave us an update on Project Vanguard, announcing that the game was rebooted under the working title ‘Kestrel'. This was one of two experimental multiplayer games in the works at Remedy. Unfortunately, after evaluating the project once again, Remedy has now made the decision to cancel it.

Kestrel, formerly known as Project Vanguard, was originally planned as a free to play title. However, after a reboot, it was decided that the game would be released as a ‘premium' title. Now, it would seem that Remedy has changed its plans again, with Kestrel being officially cancelled today. Speaking on the decision, Remedy CEO, Tero Virtala, explained the upside to this, saying:

“The decision to cancel codename Kestrel allows Remedy to focus more on the other games in its portfolio. Other ongoing game development projects will get experienced developers reassigned from Kestrel. In addition, the planned investment needs for Kestrel are removed and Remedy’s overall recruitment needs are reduced.”

From the sounds of it, the Kestrel team will not be let go. Instead, their experience working on a multiplayer game will be transferred to ‘other ongoing projects'. Given what we know about Remedy's development roadmap, we would assume that the Kestrel team will now be merging with the team working on Condor, Remedy's other multiplayer project. While Kestrel may have been a new IP, Condor is described as a multiplayer game with a unique Remedy twist, set in the Control universe.

Kestrel was being developed in collaboration with Tencent, which had invested in Remedy and the project. Those resources are now being reassigned. In a recent development update, Remedy stated that it expects Condor to move into production later this year, so this move should accelerate that process.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: With those who worked on Kestrel now moving to other Remedy projects, it is likely that some of the ideas behind the game will live on in some form.

Become a Patron!