History StillbornFranchise / VideoGames

* Neither ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' nor ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'' are dead by any means. However, their crossover series ended after its first installment -- ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken''. Between the game being OvershadowedByControversy over DLC packs that were already on the disc and the BribingYourWayToVictory gem system, the lukewarm-to-negative reception of the game itself, and the underwhelming sales, the intended sequel ''Tekken X Street Fighter'' has yet to materialize (other than Akuma being a GuestFighter in ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' and a ShoutOut in Ryu's trailer for ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU''). Notably, Capcom had very big plans for this one--they assumed it would sell as much as the most recent ''Tekken'' and ''Street Fighter'' games ''combined'', and had a roadmap to keep releasing new gem packs for years to come. Instead, they ended up spending most of the game's post-launch window doing damage control, eventually releasing a patch that at least put the game in a good state before shifting focus back to ''Street Fighter''. The official statement is that the game has been [[{{Vaporware}} shelved with about 30% of the work already done]], and in 2021, Harada had to dispell rumors that the game was cancelled that rose from his words being misinterpreted.

* According to the game's producer, ''VideoGame/TokyoMirageSessionsFE'' was meant to kickstart a series of ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei''-inspired franchise crossovers with different [=IPs=], with ''♯FE'' being the first one. Due to the low sales mentioned above, the AudienceAlienatingPremise, [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs or maybe even both]], another game with this premise might not be seen anytime soon.

* Multiplayer HeroShooter ''VideoGame/LawBreakers'' was hyped by Cliff Bleszinski as being the next "billion dollar franchise" on par with his previous material like ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' and ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar''. Unfortunately, ''[=LawBreakers=]'' completely and utterly '''bombed''' on a level rarely seen, only logging in ''10 players'' around the world just two months after launch. The game ultimately [[CreatorKiller killed Boss Key permanently]] and forced Bleszinski back into semi-retirement. It's safe to say this "billion dollar franchise" isn't going to see further installments.

* ''VideoGame/TheLastExpress'', despite the [[SugarWiki/DevelopmentHeaven sheer quality of everything from the art nouveau style to the intricate storyline]], was hit by a perfect financial storm that sank both the game and its production company. The ending drops tantalizing hints at a sequel that will most likely never be made.

* The 1994 Macintosh FPS ''Sensory Overload'' ended on a SequelHook with [[TheDragon the Mastermind]] [[VillainExitStageLeft teleporting away after her defeat]], but the sequel never materialized (likely because the game was overshadowed by the releases of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}} II'' and ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'' on the platform less than a year later), and developer Reality Bytes went out of business in 1999.

* ''Ride to Hell'' originally started development in 2008, then was cancelled, then [[UnCancelled restarted]] and intended to be a series of three games -- one on retail discs, one as a downloadable UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade[=/=]UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork game, and one on smartphones. Only the retail product, ''VideoGame/RideToHellRetribution'' was released, receiving immense backlash from all corners. Unsurprisingly, neither Creator/DeepSilver nor Eutechnyx made a peep about the other two games, ''Beatdown'' and ''Route 666'', suggesting that they were unceremoniously cancelled.

* ''VideoGame/TheLastExpress'', despite the [[DoingItForTheArt sheer quality of everything from the art nouveau style to the intricate storyline]], was hit by a perfect financial storm that sank both the game and its production company. The ending drops tantalizing hints at a sequel that will most likely never be made.

* ''VideoGame/BalanWonderworld'' was clearly meant as the start of a new franchise; with the developer being named Balan Company and the intent to make more games and other material (an ExpandedUniverse novel was even written to compliment the game). Instead, the game ended up a huge critical and commercial letdown. Creator/YujiNaka has since left Creator/SquareEnix and [[https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/09/sonic_and_balan_wonderworld_creator_yuji_naka_is_now_making_smartphone_games shifted to indie development for smartphones instead]], though with Naka's arrest for insider trading charges in 2022, any chance of the franchise receiving new content is, while not impossible, very slim.

* ''VideoGame/BalanWonderworld'' was clearly meant as the start of a new franchise; with the developer being named Balan Company and the intent to make more games and other material (an ExpandedUniverse novel was even written to compliment the game). Instead, the game ended up a huge critical and commercial letdown. Creator/YujiNaka has since left Creator/SquareEnix and [[https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/09/sonic_and_balan_wonderworld_creator_yuji_naka_is_now_making_smartphone_games shifted to indie development for smartphones instead.]]

* ''VideoGame/BruteForce'' was an original Xbox exclusive which was hyped as doing to third-person shooters what ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' did to console first-person shooters, and just like ''Halo'', was promoted with a prequel novel that expended on the backstory (in fact prior to the console's release Microsoft marketing expected ''Brute Force'' to be the big KillerApp franchise for the Xbox, but launch-title ''Halo'' vastly surpassed their expectations.) However, the final version didn't quite live up to the hype and thus ''Brute Force'' never became the multimedia juggernaut ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' is. There were rumors of a sequel for the UsefulNotes/Xbox360, but Digital Anvil's death in 2006 ensures that it will never happen.

* ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs'' saw a fairly strong positive reception on both the critical and commercial front, and Creator/SquareEnix saw it as a potential launching point for a new franchise. Work on a sequel began and a film adaptation starring ''Creator/DonnieYen'' was announced; however, the sequel was scrapped so the developers could focus on ''Triad Wars'', an MMO spin-off instead. The film also went into DevelopmentHell. When the MMO fell through and the developers closed down, it pretty much killed off any hope to see the franchise continue, unless the film adaptation manages to get off the ground.

* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' was planned to have multiple paid DLC expansion packs that would then be followed up by a persistent MMORPG style online mode similar to ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' Online. It's horrendous state at launch required 2 years of bug fixing before it could said to be at an acceptable level of quality and the white hot anger of the fanbase over the broken promises saw the plans for DLC reduced to one expansion and cancellation of the online mode that the company would have expected to generate billions of dollars. Instead the company pivoted to making a 4th game in the ''VideoGame/TheWitcher'' franchise.

* ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' was clearly being set up to be a CashCowFranchise for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on par with ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'', with an entire Nintendo Direct being dedicated to it and several StoryBreadcrumbs and {{Sequel Hook}}s being left in the game. Then it actually came out to [[SoOkayItsAverage decent, but not great reviews]], with particular criticism being given to both [[ItsShortSoItSucks its lack of content and hence replay value]] and [[UncertainAudience complex gameplay for a fighting game intended for beginners]], and over 2 million copies in its first year - while impressive, nowhere near the 3.61 million copies sold in the first quarter-year by ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' which released merely a month later. Major updates ground to a halt after merely 6 months, the intended tie-in graphic novel entered DevelopmentHell and was QuietlyCancelled in 2021, and aside from a SidelinedProtagonistCrossover in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', Nintendo has as of yet not mentioned any sequel or follow-up whatsoever.

* ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' was clearly being set up to be a FlagshipFranchise for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on par with ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'', with an entire Nintendo Direct being dedicated to it and several StoryBreadcrumbs and {{Sequel Hook}}s being left in the game. Then it actually came out to [[SoOkayItsAverage decent, but not great reviews]], with particular criticism being given to both [[ItsShortSoItSucks its lack of content and hence replay value]] and [[UncertainAudience complex gameplay for a fighting game intended for beginners]], and over 2 million copies in its first year - while impressive, nowhere near the 3.61 million copies sold in the first quarter-year by ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' which released merely a month later. Major updates ground to a halt after merely 6 months, the intended tie-in graphic novel entered DevelopmentHell and was QuietlyCancelled in 2021, and aside from a SidelinedProtagonistCrossover in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', Nintendo has as of yet not mentioned any sequel or follow-up whatsoever.

* ''VideoGame/ShogoMobileArmorDivision'', due to being overshadowed by the launch of ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'' a few weeks later, received neither the announced {{Expansion Pack}}s or a sequel.

* ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' was clearly being set up to be a FlagshipFranchise for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on par with ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'', with several StoryBreadcrumbs and {{Sequel Hook}}s being left in the game. Then it actually came out to [[SoOkayItsAverage decent, but not great reviews]], with particular criticism being given to both [[ItsShortSoItSucks its lack of content and hence replay value]] and [[UncertainAudience complex gameplay for a fighting game intended for beginners]], and over 2 million copies in its first year - while impressive, nowhere near the 3.61 million copies sold in the first quarter-year by ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' which released merely a month later. Major updates ground to a halt after merely 6 months, the intended tie-in graphic novel entered DevelopmentHell and was QuietlyCancelled in 2021, and aside from a SidelinedProtagonistCrossover in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', Nintendo has as of yet not mentioned any sequel or follow-up whatsoever.

* ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'' was clearly being set up to be a FlagshipFranchise for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on par with ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'', with several StoryBreadcrumbs and {{Sequel Hook}}s being left in the game. Then it actually came out to [[SoOkayItsAverage decent, but not great reviews]] and over 2 million copies in its first year - while impressive, nowhere near the 3.61 million copies sold in the first quarter-year by ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' which released merely a month later. Major updates ground to a halt after merely 6 months, the intended tie-in graphic novel entered DevelopmentHell and was QuietlyCancelled in 2021, and Nintendo has as of yet not mentioned any sequel whatsoever.

* ''VideoGame/AloneInTheDark1992'' was supposed to be the first game in the "Virtual Dreams" (as one can read on the original French boxart) series of standalone titles which shared the same engine. No more were made and the label was immediately discontinued while ''Alone In The Dark'' continued on as the sole franchise.

* This trope happened plenty of times with video game compilations where a CompilationRerelease that ends its title with "Volume 1" never actually gets a "Volume 2". Some examples are ''Sega Ages Volume 1'' for Sega Saturn, ''Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Volume 1'' for Nintendo 64, ''Sega Smash Pack Volume 1'' for Sega Dreamcast, ''Yu Suzuki Game Works Vol. 1'' for Sega Dreamcast, ''Jaleco Collection Vol. 1'' for [=PlayStation=], ''Toaplan Shooting Battle 1'' for [=PlayStation=], ''Capcom Coin-Op Collection Volume 1'' for Microsoft Windows, and ''SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1'' for [=PS2=], PSP, and Wii (not counting PSP exclusive ''SNK Arcade Classics 0'' which was [[NoExportForYou only released in Japan]]).
** A particularly amusing subversion exists with the ''Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged'' series. While the numbered series itself is restricted to only a Vol. 1, it is ''not ''the only entry in the line, with three more unnumbered entries going under different names.

* ''VideoGame/ZackAndWikiQuestForBarbarosTreasure'' was intended to be the first installment of a new Capcom IP (if the subtitle is any indication) and a lot of effort was put into it. Unfortunately, the game flopped due to poor marketing and [[AnimationAgeGhetto demographic issues]] (the game is super cute but [[SurpriseDifficulty incredibly difficult and challenging]] – almost unfair – even for adult gamers). It is to the point that the game has never ever been referenced in any [[VideoGame/CapcomVs Capcom crossover]].

* ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' was not supposed to be the end of the ''[[VideoGame/ChronoTrigger Chrono]]'' [[VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers series]]. A sequel, ''Chrono Break'', was planned shortly after ''Cross'''s completion and, [[VaporWare many years later, it has yet to materialize]]. A HD remaster of both ''Cross'' and ''Radical Dreamers'' did release in 2022 to the pleasant surprise of many, but Square Enix [[https://www.siliconera.com/square-enix-has-no-plans-for-chrono-cross-sequel-or-new-title/ stated]] there are still no plans for future installments at the moment, which more cynical fans interpreted as being tied to the sales of said remaster.

* This has happened to ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry''. Due to its AudienceAlienatingPremise, amongst other issues, any attempts to get a series of games going from it died when the game failed to break ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'''s sales in [[https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-24-dmc-sells-half-of-what-dmc4-did-in-japan Japan]] ''or'' America. Even when the ''Definitive Edition'' was released, it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EyrbmymWZw#t=19m still was outsold]] by the latter game's ''Special Edition'' when both were released in 2015. Eventually, [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry the classic series]] [[{{Unreboot}} was announced to return]] with ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' which, combined with Ninja Theory being purchased by Microsoft, officially put the nail in the reboot's coffin for good, outside of a DLC costume for Dante in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite''.

* ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' was not supposed to be the end of the ''[[VideoGame/ChronoTrigger Chrono]]'' [[VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers series]]. A sequel, ''Chrono Break'', was planned shortly after ''Cross'''s completion and, [[VaporWare many years later, it has yet to materialize]].

* This has happened to ''[[VideoGame/DmCDevilMayCry DmC: Devil May Cry]]''. Due to its AudienceAlienatingPremise, amongst other issues, any attempts to get a series of games going from it died when the game failed to break ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'''s sales in [[https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-24-dmc-sells-half-of-what-dmc4-did-in-japan Japan]] ''or'' America. Even when the ''Definitive Edition'' was released, it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EyrbmymWZw#t=19m still was outsold]] by the latter game's ''Special Edition'' when both were released in 2015. Eventually, the classic series was announced to return with ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' which, combined with Ninja Theory being purchased by Microsoft, officially put the nail in the reboot's coffin for good, outside of a DLC costume for Dante in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite''.

* ''VideoGame/HavenCallOfTheKing'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 was supposed to be the first installment in a revolutionary video game trilogy that would defy all genres. What was actually released was [[SoOkayItsAverage mediocre]]: while it did mix together a lot of genres (action, platforming, RPG, driving) as promised, it didn't do any of them particularly ''well''. The lackluster sales killed the planned trilogy at the first game, whose planned UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} and UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo GameCube}} ports were also canceled.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning'' was designed as a prologue to a multimedia franchise centred upon a planned {{MMORPG}} with the WorkingTitle ''Project Copernicus''. Unfortunately, [[http://hothardware.com/News/38-Studios-Is-Dead-Fallout-Over-Company-Implosion-Takes-On-Life-Of-Its-Own/ catastrophic financial shenanigans]] ensued, revolving around an ill-advised government loan for $75 million (with wildly-unrealistic repayment terms) and incredible mismanagement on behalf of developer 38 Studios. The resulting monetary implosion meant the game needed to sell three million copies to break even, and despite selling over one million in a few weeks, the company went under. The rights then reverted to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, who attempted to auction off the IP. While the game ''did'' sell well by normal, non-bankruptcy-involving standards, Rhode Island was unable to find a buyer until 2018 when it was acquired by THQ Nordic, who are now working on a remaster of the game with new content, ''Re-Reckoning'', that seeks to avert this trope entirely.
* ''{{VideoGame/Kya Dark Lineage}}'' flopped, partially due to a dumb marketing campaign ("She's a whole lotta hurt in a belly shirt"), and the sequel hinted at in the ending never materialized.

* Multiplayer HeroShooter ''VideoGame/LawBreakers'' was hyped by Cliff Bleszinski as being the next "billion dollar franchise" on par with his previous material like ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament'' and ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar''. Unfortunately, ''[=LawBreakers=]'' completely and utterly '''bombed''' on a level rarely seen, only logging in ''10 players'' around the world just two months after launch. The game ultimately [[CreatorKiller killed Boss Key permanently]] and forced Cliff back into semi-retirement. It's safe to say this "billion dollar franchise" isn't going to see further installments.

** Starting with the [=SNES=] game ''J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I'' by Creator/{{Interplay}}, a Vol 2 was planned but poor sales and critical panning killed those plans. Around the same time, Interplay also made completely different video game adaptations for home computers which got to ''The Two Towers'', but a third part never came to be.
** Much later, when Creator/PeterJackson's film adaptations were coming out, Vivendi Universal was planning on making the full videogame trilogy adapted from the books (back then, Vivendi held the rights for Tolkien's novels while Creator/ElectronicArts held the films' rights). Vivendi managed to release ''The Fellowship of the Ring'' which, [[SoOkayItsAverage although not a bad game, was nothing special]]. Meanwhile, Electronic Arts released ''The Two Towers'' and ''The Return of the King'' which were based on the movies (the ''Two Towers'' actually also contained ''Fellowship'' material). But the planned novel-based adaptations of the remaining books were never released. Eventually, Vivendi lost the rights to EA too.
* ''VideoGame/{{Lunar}} Legend'' was not followed by a Gameboy Advance remake of ''Eternal Blue'', and ''Silver Star Harmony'' was not followed by ''Eternal Blue Harmony''.

* ''VideoGame/PlayStationAllStarsBattleRoyale'' was intended to be the first of a series meant to compete with the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' games and give the Playstation its own MascotFighter to compete with Nintendo. The game's disappointing commercial reception effectively made it the only one.
* ''VideoGame/PN03'' sold barely 20,000 copies, so Capcom aborted the franchise.

* ''Ride to Hell'' originally started development in 2008, then was cancelled, then [[UnCancelled restarted]] and intended to be a series of three games - one on retail discs, one as a downloadable UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade[=/=]UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork game, and one on smartphones. Only the retail product, ''VideoGame/RideToHellRetribution'' was released, receiving immense backlash from all corners. Unsurprisingly, neither Creator/DeepSilver nor Eutechnyx made a peep about the other two games, ''Beatdown'' and ''Route 666'', suggesting that they were unceremoniously cancelled.

* Neither ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' nor ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' are dead by any means. However, their crossover series ended after its first installment -- ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken''. Between the game being OvershadowedByControversy over DLC packs that were already on the disc and the BribingYourWayToVictory gem system, the lukewarm-to-negative reception of the game itself, and the underwhelming sales, the intended sequel ''Tekken X Street Fighter'' has yet to materialize (other than Akuma being a GuestFighter in ''Tekken 7'' and a ShoutOut in Ryu's trailer for ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU''). Notably, Capcom had very big plans for this one--they assumed it would sell as much as the most recent ''Tekken'' and ''Street Fighter'' games ''combined'', and had a roadmap to keep releasing new gem packs for years to come. Instead, they ended up spending most of the game's post-launch window doing damage control, eventually releasing a patch that at least put the game in a good state before shifting focus back to ''Street Fighter''. The official statement is that the game has been [[{{Vaporware}} shelved with about 30% of the work already done]], and in 2021, Harada had to dispell rumors that the game was cancelled that rose from his words being misinterpreted.
* ''VideoGame/SushiStrikerTheWayOfSushido'' was pretty clearly written for the story to continue, with a series of {{Sequel Hook}}s between the final battle and TheStinger (and arguably the postgame as well). In addition, the AchievementSystem has a set dedicated to milestones in online multiplayer, suggesting the designers expected there to be enough players for a robust online play environment. However, despite a sizable push by Nintendo, it failed to sell due to a combination of an AudienceAlienatingPremise, a rather high price tag for the game, and cutscenes fully animated and voiced by professional actors driving up the budget. For the foreseeable future, there won't be any further Sushi Striker games. The biggest thing the franchise has had since then is the protagonist appearing in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' as a Spirit.

* The commercial failure of action [=RPG=] ''VideoGame/TooHuman'' not only killed Creator/SiliconKnights' hopes of a trilogy, but also any hopes of an ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'' followup. This played a big part in the demise of Silicon Knights, but former studio head Denis Dyack is still trying to greenlight ''Shadow of the Eternals'', a SpiritualSuccessor to ''Eternal Darkness'', despite its ill-fated Kickstarter campaign.
* Creator/{{Disney}} / Creator/{{Touchstone Pictures}}'s 2008 ContinuityReboot of ''VideoGame/{{Turok}}'', after ''Evolution'' [[FranchiseKiller killed the original series]] [[CreatorKiller and]] [[Creator/{{Acclaim}} its publisher]], had the bad luck to be an average shooter when better shooters were glutting the market, thus the planned sequel was canned (another, much smaller comic reboot was eventually started sometime after Creator/DreamWorksAnimation became a ''Turok'' copyright holder through Classic Media).

* Level-5 Studios' ''VideoGame/WhiteKnightChronicles'' was originally planned to be a UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 launch title and the first installment of a new [=PlayStation=]-exclusive tentpole RPG franchise. However, production difficulties incurred from adding on an ill-advised quasi-MMORPG game mode led to the finished product being unfocused and decidedly mediocre. It failed to meet sales expectations, as did its "sequel", ''White Knight Chronicles II'', which was actually just a stealth release of the originally unfinished and shelved back half of the first game. Sony has since tried its best to ignore its existence, and even Level-5 seems to be [[OldShame sheepish and cringey whenever its specter is brought up]].

* ''VideoGame/MightyNo9'' was an extreme example of putting the cart before the horse. During its ({{troubled|Production}}) production, Creator/KeijiInafune publicly announced plans for not only a sequel, but also a [[VideoGame/RedAsh spin-off]], [[https://www.polygon.com/2014/7/21/5922717/mighty-no-9-the-animated-series-interview an animated series]], [[Anime/RedAshGearworld an animated series for the spin-off]], a film (or even two), and much more. When the game was finally released, it turned out to be a technical trainwreck and was met with scathing reviews, leaving little chance of the franchise getting off the ground, though this didn't stop game studio Comcept (which was more of a design studio than an actual developer) from still wishing to do a sequel. Comcept was bought out by Creator/Level5 a year later, and hasn't made anything but a single mobile game since then.

* Headfirst was planning at least three other ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'' games to follow ''Dark Corners of the Earth'', one of which was based on ''Literature/AtTheMountainsOfMadness'. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt before they could finish any of them.

* Headfirst was planning at least three other TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu games to follow Dark Corners of the Earth, one of which was based on ''Literature/AtTheMountainsOfMadness'. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt before they could finish any of them.