Overview
- Sony had been developing sequels for the PS Vita titles Soul Sacrifice and Freedom Wars before canceling both projects.
- The cessation of these sequels was influenced by Sony’s strategic pivot towards prioritizing the PlayStation 4, resulting in reallocated resources.
- Former SIE President Shuhei Yoshida noted that the PS4’s emergence hindered additional titles for the PS Vita.
In the past, Sony was actively working on sequels for two beloved titles from the PlayStation Vita, namely Freedom Wars and Soul Sacrifice. However, these projects were ultimately scrapped, coinciding with the decline of the PS Vita itself.
The PS Vita, which launched between December 2011 and February 2012, is notable for its brief lifespan among major gaming consoles. By 2015, Sony officially ceased its production of first-party games for the Vita. One of the last significant projects for the console was Freedom Wars, developed by Dimps, which garnered critical acclaim upon its 2014 release, marking a pivotal moment in the Vita’s library.
In a recent episode of the Sacred Symbols+ podcast, former Sony Interactive Entertainment President Shuhei Yoshida disclosed that Sony had plans for sequels to both Freedom Wars and Soul Sacrifice. Both games had achieved substantial critical success, evident from Soul Sacrifice‘s outstanding reception shortly after its 2013 launch.
PS4’s Influence on the Cancellation of Freedom Wars 2 and Soul Sacrifice 2
The cancellation of both Freedom Wars 2 and Soul Sacrifice 2 was primarily due to the resources being diverted to the PS4. Yoshida recounted that, during their developmental phase, budget constraints led to the difficult decision to halt progress on these titles, emphasizing the transition to the new console generation.
Although Yoshida did not provide a specific timeline regarding the duration of development for these sequels, he hinted that the PS4’s transition contributed significantly to the PS Vita’s decline. Had there been a steadier focus on first-party titles for the Vita, more spin-offs from prominent franchises, akin to Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Killzone: Mercenary, could have emerged.
We were actually working on Soul Sacrifice 2 and Freedom Wars 2, but because of budget limitations, we had to stop and move on to PS4.
While Sony ultimately decided not to proceed with Freedom Wars 2, they did ensure that the original title remained accessible, releasing Freedom Wars Remastered in January 2025. Interestingly, this remaster was made available on various platforms, including Nintendo Switch and PC, alongside its PlayStation 4 and 5 releases. Conversely, Soul Sacrifice continues to be exclusive to the PS Vita, with Sony having shown no intentions to remaster it despite ongoing requests from fans.