Welcome to the fascinating world of video game development – a realm often shrouded in secrecy and filled with intrigue, drama, and countless tales of relentless perseverance. In our journey today, we’re going to delve into the captivating histories of ten games that were truly marathons of creation. From the ambitious project of The Last Guardian to the iconic Team Fortress 2, from the shifting evolution of Final Fantasy 15 to the multi-decade journey of Clockwork Aquario, we unravel the intricacies and challenges that their creators navigated.
Each story unfolds the passion, determination, and tenacity of teams that weathered technical obstacles, shifting market dynamics, and even the treacherous terrain of internal conflicts. So buckle up as we embark on an adventure through time, exploring the long roads these groundbreaking titles had to travel before they finally graced our gaming screens. The countdown for the longest development projects in video gaming history begins now.
The Last Guardian – A Development Odyssey of 9 Years
In the year of 2007, the imaginative creator, Fumito Ueda, embarked on the ambitious project of developing a unique game, The Last Guardian. This game, born from the artistic womb of his previous successful ventures, Ico (2001) and Shadow of the Colossus (2005), explores the profound and heartwarming relationship between a young boy and an exotic creature, Trico, as they navigate through an enigmatic labyrinth of ancient ruins.
The vision for this project was grandiose, perhaps overly ambitious for the capabilities of the PlayStation 3. The key element that was supposed to set the game apart was the intricate interactions between the boy and Trico. However, this turned out to be a complex endeavor. The team faced the challenging task of creating a fully interactive creature, from its beak to its feathers to its legs.
The meticulous attention to detail turned out to be a lengthy process that consumed a great deal of the studio’s time, which eventually led to the project being temporarily put on hold. However, when development resumed, the gaming landscape had shifted, and the PlayStation 3 no longer fit the bill in terms of market demand.
After nine years of hard work, persistence, and adaptation to changes, the game was eventually released in 2016. Yet, instead of PlayStation 3, it found its home on the new and improved PlayStation 4, where players could finally immerse themselves in the much-anticipated gaming experience.
Team Fortress Two – 9 Years of Evolution and Success
The iconic class-based shooter, Team Fortress 2, is a testament to timeless game design, managing to retain its popularity for over 15 years post-release. This stellar success can be attributed to its inclusion in The Orange Box bundle, along with other renowned games such as Portal and Half-Life 2. This strategic move ensured that Team Fortress 2 was instantly available to millions of eager gamers who were ready to dive into its unique shooter gameplay.
The origins of Team Fortress stretch back to 1996 with the release of the original Team Fortress game. It was a simple but innovative modification of the popular game Quake, introducing a novel class system and unique abilities that resonated with players. The long-awaited sequel, Team Fortress 2, would take a lengthy nine years to fully develop.
This prolonged development process was due to the adoption of the Source game engine by Valve, which greatly influenced the game’s overall design and performance. Additionally, the creative team spent a significant amount of time experimenting with various versions of the game, each one contributing to the final product’s success.
Ultimately, Team Fortress 2’s lengthy development journey turned out to be worth the wait. The game emerged as a refined, engaging shooter, further establishing Valve’s reputation as a game developer that isn’t afraid to take the time needed to produce quality content.
Final Fantasy 15 – A Decade of Transformation
From its inception in 2006, Final Fantasy 15 underwent a significant evolution during its decade-long development process. Initially, it was conceived as a spin-off to the main Final Fantasy series and christened “Final Fantasy versus 13.” The creative force behind this original concept was Tetsuya Nomura, a key figure in shaping the direction of this beloved franchise, and the man who steered the production process.
The developers released an enticing trailer early in the process, even though the development had barely gotten off the ground. Their vision for this title was grand; they aspired to construct an entirely new graphics engine exclusively for the PlayStation 3, which was a daring and ambitious undertaking. However, due to the extensive resources required for such a large-scale project, especially for a spin-off, the focus shifted towards developing Final Fantasy XIII.
As a result, the concept for Final Fantasy versus 13 was shelved. However, in 2013, the project received a new lease on life. It was reintegrated into the main series and rebranded as Final Fantasy 15, reclaiming its priority status within the development team. Tetsuya Nomura was replaced by Hajime Tabata, and despite the long hiatus, Tabata made the bold decision to restart the project almost from scratch. His dedication and perseverance paid off when the game was finally released three years later, marking the end of a decade-long journey.
Prey – An Epic 11-Year Development Journey
Prey, not to be mistaken with the title from Arkane, suffered a development journey that was reminiscent of the notorious Duke Nukem Forever saga, with both being products of 3D Realms. The vision for Prey in 1995 was grand, led by the head programmer, Mark Dochtermann. However, Pierre Broussard, the creator of Duke Nukem, was not as actively involved in the project, leading to significant development issues.
Dochtermann, realizing the perpetual nature of the project at 3D Realms, decided to part ways with the company, taking a portion of his team along. The daunting task of simultaneously creating two games proved overwhelming for most of the staff, particularly given the significant delays both titles were experiencing. Consequently, Prey was temporarily shelved.
In 2001, the publishing company Take Two took the reins, assuming control over the Prey project and transitioning the development process to a different studio, Human Head Studios. This bold decision proved successful when Prey was finally released in 2006 to widespread critical acclaim.
Despite the initial success of Prey, an attempt by 3D Realms to produce a sequel, Prey 2, did not fare as well. The project struggled and was ultimately canceled, marking another chapter in the studio’s history of ambitious projects encountering turbulent development journeys.
Diablo III – A Development Journey Spanning Over a Decade
Emerging in 2012 as the much-anticipated sequel to the revered Diablo 2, which took the gaming world by storm in 2000, Diablo 3 initially faced a somewhat shaky reception upon its release. Despite this, through determined persistence and a series of changes, including alterations to the economy and auction house, the game finally found its footing. Diablo 3 has since evolved into a commendable successor to its predecessor, standing as a reputable name among the annals of the most cherished hack-and-slash games in the history of video gaming.
The decade-plus journey of Diablo 3’s development, undertaken by Blizzard, had multiple contributing factors. Among the most prominent was the imposing development demands and the tremendous revenue potential of World of Warcraft (WoW). Given WoW’s subscription model, it quickly rose to become one of the most financially successful games ever. As a result, it is not surprising that Diablo 3’s development was temporarily sidelined, put on a metaphorical back-burner, as the primary focus shifted towards the cash-cow that WoW represented.
Duke Nukem Forever – A Record-Breaking 15-Year Wait
Duke Nukem Forever, a name synonymous with the longest development period in video game history, was eventually released after a seemingly endless wait of 15 years. This game was supposed to herald the triumphant return of the titular hero, Duke Nukem, who was now basking in his millionaire status following his previous feat of saving Earth from an alien invasion.
When development began in 1996 at the 3D Realms studio, the 3D revolution was taking the gaming industry by storm. However, the Duke Nukem project remained in 2D, akin to the popular first-person shooter games of the era, like Doom. In response, the development team opted to transition to a new graphics engine. But history repeated itself in 2002 when technological advancements again outpaced the project’s progress, leading to further delays.
Faced with relentless criticism and jokes about the development duration, 3D Realms finally addressed the delay, humorously stating they’d heard every joke imaginable about the long wait. Amidst these challenges, the studio unfortunately declared bankruptcy, and the rights to Duke Nukem were subsequently taken over by GearBox Software. After years of chaotic twists and turns, the game finally saw the light of day in 2011, bringing an end to one of the most tumultuous development journeys in gaming history.
Star Fox 2 – A Journey Spanning Two Decades
According to a report by Edge magazine, the development of Star Fox II took its first steps back in 1993. This game was a joint venture by Nintendo EAD based in Japan and Argonaut Software, located in the United Kingdom. The game was initially designed for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The team at the helm of the project was keen on exploring new avenues in gameplay, with ideas ranging from introducing random encounters and a strategic map system, to even a two-player mode. The game had advanced to the point where a demo was showcased at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas in 1995.
However, the world of 3D technology was changing swiftly around the time of Star Fox II’s development. Nintendo’s principal rivals, PlayStation and Sega Saturn, had already managed to introduce games with far more impressive 3D graphics. Concerned about the graphical capabilities of the SNES in this rapidly evolving landscape, Nintendo made the difficult decision to pull the plug on the project when it was nearly 95% complete. The development was officially ceased, despite the game undergoing full localization and Quality Assurance testing. Beta versions of the game even found their way onto the internet in the 90s.
As the winds of fortune would have it, Nintendo eventually decided to resurrect Star Fox II from its development limbo. The game finally saw a release on the SNES Classic and was included in the Nintendo Switch Online’s December 2019 update, a full 20 years after its original conception.
Unreal World – An Epic 26-Year Adventure
Of all the games mentioned in this list, Unreal World may likely be the least familiar to most. This game, described as the first-ever sandbox roguelike RPG, was crafted by a two-man team based in Finland. This ambitious project, initiated by Sami Maaranen and Erkka Lehmus, began in 1990, with the first build being released just two years later.
Following an incredible 26-year development journey, this passion project was finally released for purchase on the popular gaming platform, Steam, on February 26, 2016, retailing at $10.99. While it may not boast the flashy graphics or intricate gameplay of other contemporary titles, Unreal World stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of one’s passion. This unique game, with its immersive world and roguelike elements, indeed represents an ‘unreal’ journey in the realm of game development.
Clockwork Aquario – A Tale of 28 Years in the Making
Clockwork Aquario weaves a unique narrative, not only in its gameplay but also in its journey to completion, which took a staggering 28 years. Westone studio, in collaboration with Ryuichi Nishizawa, spent two years developing this captivating project. However, in a cruel twist of fate, its chosen platform – the arcade – fell out of favor towards the end of the 20th century. Deemed internally as being ‘old-fashioned’, the game’s release was abruptly cancelled in 1994. Westone, unfortunately, never got a chance to breathe new life into the project as the studio was eventually shut down, putting to rest any lingering hopes of its commercial release.
In an unexpected turn of events, ININ Games studios and Strictly Limited Games teamed up in 2002, determined to revive this seemingly forgotten title. Their efforts bore fruit when Clockwork Aquario was finally launched the following year on consoles, faithfully maintaining the original aesthetics and charm that echo the essence of its era.
Beyond Good & Evil 2 – The Countdown Continues
In 2022, Ubisoft Montpellier, a French studio, claimed an infamous record for the longest ongoing development of a video game with its elusive project, Beyond Good & Evil 2. Yet to be released, this game is intended to serve as a prequel to the original Beyond Good & Evil, which was unveiled in 2003.
It was in May 2008 that director Michel Ancel first confirmed the existence of this sequel during an interview with JV. Teaser trailers soon followed in 2009, sparking excitement among players. However, they had to endure a waiting period of another seven years before a new trailer was finally presented during E3 2016.
In 2020, the situation took a dark turn when newspaper Liberation published an expose about Ancel’s alleged abusive behavior and accusations of sexual harassment within the studio. The article suggested that his conduct was problematic, and he often demanded developers to redo their work without justifiable reasons.
From then on, news about the game’s development has been scarce. However, a ray of hope emerged in 2021. According to a financial report, it was revealed that “development is progressing well”. So the wait for Beyond Good & Evil 2 continues, with fans across the globe eagerly anticipating its eventual release.
