14 DAY TRIAL // United Front Games, the developer of the upcoming Sleeping Dogs title, has talked about the turmoil that affected the project after its publisher, Activision, was replaced with Square Enix.
UFG was tasked by Activision to make a new installment in its True Crime series that was supposed to be called True Crime: Hong Kong. The project looked pretty good, but Activision suddenly dropped publishing rights last summer.
Square Enix quickly seized the opportunity and started collaborating with UFG through its Square Enix London studio after renaming the game into Sleeping Dogs.
According to UFG producer Jeff O'Connell, he and his studio didn't lose hope when Activision walked away from the project.
"We always kept working," he told Joystiq. "I think, obviously, when you lose your publisher, there's a period of shock that sets in, and you have to make sure that you're taking care of yourself and your people at that point and you're helping people through that time."
"We always believed in the game, and always felt that it was going to somehow make it out there because we felt what we were offering was really unique and strong. So, yeah, we didn't stop."
Fortunately for United Front Games, Square Enix stepped in and, according to O'Connell, the relationship has been extremely good with the veterans at the London studio.
"Meeting Square, which we did very shortly after the game was canceled -- and I'm probably going to use some corny expression -- was like a bright light," O'Connell revealed. "Right away, we met those guys and I think we just clicked with them."
Since then, both teams have put the finishing touches on Sleeping Dogs and are getting ready to release it this August. Expect more details about the game in the near future.