In what could have been an iconic open-world zombie game, Rockstar Games' discontinued project is now a title for gamers to marvel at and hope the company would release in the future-but it seems highly unlikely. This was revealed by a former developer who worked for Rockstar more than a decade ago, also showing new information behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise's early run.
Rockstar Games' Supposed Open-World Zombie Game
Obbe Vermeij recounted his moments via a blog post, where, during his time, he previously worked for Rockstar Games as the former technical director at Rockstar North. In his post, he focused on the development of the GTA Trilogy, as well as Grand Theft Auto IV.
However, one of the most shocking revelations by Vermeij was a supposed open-world zombie survival game called "Agent," which was part of the company's plan to steer away from the GTA franchise for a while. Initially, Vermeij and the team started on this development after they released Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002, giving it the codename "Z" (pronounced as "Zed" and not "zee").
"Z" originally used Vice City's code but sets gamers on a Scottish island in the 70s, where they will use vehicles to navigate around and escape zombie hordes, with one of the main challenges centering on fuel and maintenance.
Why Was This Zombie Game Canceled by Rockstar?
It was revealed that as the company prepared to develop GTA IV, the team was divided, with one half focusing on this concept game and the other on their AAA-rated main franchise title. The team saw one year of their work poured into developing "Agent," and despite the demand by fans, it was ultimately scrapped, with Rockstar pulling everyone to work on GTA IV.
Rockstar Games and What it Offers
Grand Theft Auto remains the most popular franchise in Rockstar Games' releases for gamers, and for a long time since 1997, it has given gamers a chance to experience the wonders of this sandbox game. Its last game, Grand Theft Auto V, recently celebrated its 10 years in the industry, with it still an ongoing experience for some, especially for GTA Online.
The gaming company also saw critical acclaim for its westerner, Red Dead Redemption. It is similar to GTA in terms of the sandbox experience but offers a unique plot that takes players back to the Wild West.
Moreover, gamers are still anticipating the return of the Bully franchise, an action game that centers on a prep school and their everyday mischiefs, also offering gamers a chance to forge their paths.
Through the years, Rockstar Games has given the world highly-rated and industry-defying games, with the company stuck to its massive guns and players as a recipe for its success. Still, it had a brief moment where it experimented on a new release, a supposed open-world based on Vice City, set in a dystopian island overrun by the undead.
