Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth

Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth
Developer(s)	Annapurna Interactive
Publisher(s)	Annapurna Interactive Alcon Interactive Group
Director(s)	Chelsea Hash
Artist(s)	Cosimo Galluzzi
Series	Blade Runner
Platform(s)	Windows Other consoles
Release	TBA

Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth is an upcoming adventure game published and developed by Alcon Interactive Group and Annapurna Interactive's internal studio, led by game director Chelsea Hash.[1][2] Aside being Annapurna’s first in-house developed game, it is also the first Blade Runner game for consoles and PC in development since Blade Runner in 1997.[3][4]

Plot

The game is set in a dystopian Los Angeles after the Blackout, between the original 1982 film, Blade Runner, and the 2017 sequel, Blade Runner 2049, and approximately a year after the events of the 2021 anime Blade Runner: Black Lotus.[5]

Development

On June 22, 2022, Annapurna Interactive tapped Solar Ash game director Chelsea Hash to develop an unannounced project developed in-house by the studio in 2020 with a fairly small team consisting of technical director Brett Lajzer, senior producer Evan Hembacher, art director Cosimo Galluzzi and environment artist Nate Grove.[6][7] During the June 2023 Annapurna Interactive Showcase, it was announced that the project they worked on was a Blade Runner narrative video game. It shares themes between the films and takes place after the anime Blade Runner: Black Lotus, largely focused on honing and taking details from the original film's production and the source material from the novel.[8][9]

In September 2024 the status of the game was put into question after Annapurna Interactive's internal development team had resigned amid mass resignations at Annapurna interactive following a power struggle at the studio in September 2024. However, following the resignations Annapurna Interactive would later reiterate that it planned to continue development and release the game despite the resignations.[10][11]

References

1. Scullion, Chris (June 29, 2023). "Annapurna announces Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth, its first internally-developed game". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
2. Bonk, Lawrence (June 29, 2023). "'Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth' is a new game set between the two movies". Engadget. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
3. Watts, Steve (June 29, 2023). "Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth Coming From Annapurna". GameSpot. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
4. LeBlanc, Wesley (June 29, 2023). "Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth Is Annapurna Interactive's First In-House Game". Game Informer. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
5. Egan, Toussaint (June 29, 2023). "Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth announced by Annapurna Interactive". Polygon. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
6. Beresford, Trilby (June 6, 2022). "Annapurna Interactive Taps 'Solar Ash' Game Director to Helm Internal Development Studio". The Hollywood Reporter.
7. Beresford, Trilby (October 29, 2020). "Annapurna Interactive Launches Internal Game Development Studio". The Hollywood Reporter.
8. Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth - Official Reveal Trailer | Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2023. IGN. June 29, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
9. Valentine, Rebekah (June 29, 2023). "Annapurna Interactive Is Developing a Blade Runner Game". IGN. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
10. Valentine, Rebekah (September 12, 2024). "Annapurna's Entire Gaming Team Has Resigned". IGN. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
11. "Annapurna Video-Game Division Imploded Because of Power Struggle". Bloomberg.com. September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.

External links

• Official website