Rockstar Games Killed Midnight Club 5 Because It Wasn't as Big as GTA, Ex-Designer Claims

An ex-Rockstar Games decorator claims that the workplace killed the Midnight Club franchise arsenic it wasn't arsenic large arsenic Grand Theft Auto.

In an interrogation with Insider Gaming, erstwhile Rockstar elder decorator Kris Roberts was asked astir Midnight Club's fate, having worked connected the franchise astatine Rockstar San Diego — the workplace that helmed Rockstar's arcade racing franchise and led improvement connected the archetypal Red Dead Redemption. Roberts noted that a 5th Midnight Club crippled was successful aboriginal improvement pursuing the merchandise of Midnight Club: Los Angeles and the squad had adjacent prototyped caller locations, including London.

Unfortunately, the plug was pulled connected the racing crippled during its improvement phase. Roberts noted that determination was a "non-trivial conflict" betwixt Rockstar San Diego and the much cardinal Rockstar New York. The decorator noted that portion determination had been morganatic frustrations implicit missed deadlines connected the erstwhile Midnight Club game, Rockstar inactive hadn't fixed the racing bid its props arsenic it wasn't astir arsenic large arsenic GTA.

“The cognition was we ne'er got the accolades oregon the reception,” Roberts explained. “The New York position was, ‘You’re not GTA’. When you’re the red-headed stepchild task — you know, we’re doing a bully job, we’re world-class, but we’re inactive treated little than. It was challenging.”

Roberts besides stated that Midnight Club kept players much engaged than competitors similar Need for Speed and Burnout, but it wasn't enough. Unfortunately, the cancelation of Midnight Club 5 signaled to a batch of radical that the franchise was improbable to instrumentality and arsenic a result, remaining unit moved connected to enactment connected Red Dead Redemption oregon different projects wrong Rockstar.

“When they cancelled it, it was beauteous wide that determination would beryllium nary much Midnight Club and everything was going to beryllium GTA and worldly moving forward, and that’s conscionable the mode it was going to be," said Roberts.

One of the large complaints from fans is that Rockstar hasn't diversified capable since Grand Theft Auto 5. A sequel to Red Dead Redemption made consciousness arsenic the studio's travel up, but it has present meant that Rockstar has been successful a loop of GTA and Red Dead games for a decennary and a half. Some fans fearfulness this is the aboriginal of Rockstar and that we won't get much unique, smaller-scale games similar Bully, LA Noire, oregon Midnight Club anymore.

Rockstar volition person the accidental to bash immoderate it wants aft GTA 6, fixed it volition marque unfathomable amounts of money. The workplace is publishing a brace of Max Payne remakes, developed by Remedy, but it's unclear erstwhile these volition spot the airy of day. Whether oregon not Rockstar volition revisit immoderate of these dormant franchises itself oregon effort thing caller aft GTA 6 remains to beryllium seen.

Cade Onder is simply a freelancer for IGN's quality team. He covers each things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You tin find him connected Twitter @Cade_Onder.