14 DAY TRIAL // The rumors have been swirling around for some time that Electronic Arts was preparing to create and publish a remake of the classic Syndicate. And now two sources, one from Electronic Arts and the other from Starbreeze, have again stoked the flames of the rumor fire by saying that the developer has been working for quite some time on a Syndicate game which is set to arrive sometime in 2010, if all goes according to plans.
Starbreeze has, until now, worked on The Darkness and on two Riddick-themed videogames, one of which is set to launch shortly. It is also said to be working on a new Bourne title that should arrive this year, published by Electronic Arts. But a small team is in the early stages of development for a Syndicate remake, with the full power of the developer ready to get behind the project immediately after finishing the Bourne game.
Electronic Arts has refused to comment on all the speculations, saying that it does not comment on rumors. As always, a lot of people took this as a kind of confirmation of the said rumors. It's thought that Electronic Arts will prepare the new Syndicate title for the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and the PC.
The original Syndicate was launched in 1993 and was produced by Bullfrog, a company that counted Peter Molyneux amongst its founders. Bullfrog was bought and dismantled by EA.
Syndicate is seen as a very well designed game, which blends management elements, centered around research, development and funding with action, as players control four agents in an effort to accomplish a variety of missions. It was bloody, edgy and had a cyberpunk aroma that made it very interesting in the early '90's. A remake should focus on keeping those central elements while updating the setting and allowing the player an even greater degree of control over his/her in game corporation.