Missing in action ex-Activision title, True Crime: Hong Kong has been renamed 'Sleeping Dogs' by new publisher Square Enix.
[UPDATE: Sleeping Dogs is official. Go watch the new live action trailer.]
A Sleeping Dogs trademark by Square Enix was spotted last month, mistakenly associated with a new Kane & Lynch.
The United Front Games (ModNation Racers) developed title was axed by former publisher Activision early last year.
The game remains in production at the Vancouver-based studio but the project's now being overseen by Square Enix London Studios, the publisher announced last summer.
The open-world title's since been confirmed for a 2012 release date, but that's the last we've heard.
True Crime: Hong Kong was playable from start to finish and "virtually complete" in terms of content before Activision canned it, United Front Games told CVG in a studio visit shortly before the announcement.
We were one of the last publications in the world to see the game before its 'death' under Activision. Read our True Crime: Hong Kong impressions for an idea of how it was shaping up.
Comments
12 comments so far...
StonecoldMC on 8 Feb '12 said:
Brilliant news. From the little that I saw of 'True Crimes', it looked like it could have been a contender.
Here's hoping it lives up to my vague and hazy memory!
appyday on 8 Feb '12 said:
Cool, I was looking forward to true crime hk (without playing the second one....) as it seemed like a decent reboot....
Although I am disappointed it is not the news of a kane and lynch 3 that I hoped for....
CrispyLog on 8 Feb '12 said:
Unfixable, the game has been in limbo for too long so personally I'd just let it lie.
ricflair on 8 Feb '12 said:
Very good crispy. I imagine you high fived yourself and are grinning like a bastard after that. And in the 'Article Comments' to boot!!
I thought the True Crime games were bloody awful anyway anyway, so I wasn't bothered in the slightest when it was canned. It could be good though I suppose, but I'm never hopeful with a development history like this. Although it's s difference developer to the original games...
svd_grasshopper on 8 Feb '12 said:
why did activision can it when it was basically finished?! another short-sighted financial decision no doubt, like the killing off of bizarre creations. hope it's massive...
and hope the people responsible for the K&L games haven't been anywhere near it.
a GTA hong kong would be welcomed by most, seems stupid to can it, especially when you have an over-reliance on the same old franchises, no matter how successful. branch out a little? don't be stupid. activision deserve to die.
hope this is good, and out before GTA5, as i would be surprised to see that this year.
TheCrimsonFenix on 8 Feb '12 said:
Finally, we will all be able to chase cats!
dicky1993 on 8 Feb '12 said:
hmmm it looked good but now they canned it i think remaking will be badddddd, when things are passed on they never turn out good
Gambini on 8 Feb '12 said:
I actually really hope this turns out to be great, and a huge hit for Square Enix... would love to see egg on Activisions face.
Gambini on 8 Feb '12 said:
What do you mean? Just look at Duke Nukem Fo... oh wait
svd_grasshopper on 8 Feb '12 said:
they are hardly 'remaking' it. they are tying up all the loose ends and polishing it up.
very different to duke nukem.
Cerberus on 8 Feb '12 said:
Wonder if it'll give you the option to have a Cantonese/Mandarin dialogue with subs as it's set in HK ?
gmcb007 on 8 Feb '12 said:
I would still love to know why Activision canned this when it was already made? How can it flop when it never even got released?