Controversial shooter Six Days in Fallujah has been revived. The project was originally canceled in 2009, but has returned thanks to a new publisher and a new developer made up of ex-Halo and Destiny staffers.
What will the new Six Days in Fallujah be like?
According to a press release, Six Days in Fallujah will be a new game built from all-new "unique technologies and game mechanics". It's not clear how much of original developer Atomic Games' work has been scrapped, but it seems like Six Days in Fallujah has been rebuilt within the last three years. However, the central idea of the game is the same. It's a realistic military shooter that aims to depict combat as it actually is, aiming to be "the most authentic military shooter to date", according to new publisher Victura. You can check out the new announcement trailer for Six Days in Fallujah right here:
The new version is headed up by Peter Tamte, who was originally responsible for bringing the idea to the fore in the 2000s. He's joined by ex-Halo devs including lead designer Jaime Griesemer and composer Marty O'Donnell. The original Six Days in Fallujah was made in conjunction with US Marines, soldiers, and Iraqi civilians, with over a hundred hours of interviews conducted to ensure authenticity. All of that work will carry over to the new project as well, but it'll naturally have more advanced tech behind it than the original would have.
The game's original developer, Atomic Games, was headed up by Peter Tamte, and he's also overseeing this project with new publishing studio Victura. Tamte says it's time to "challenge outdated stereotypes" about the nature of videogames. He's aiming to understand what he describes as "one of the most important events of our century" with Six Days in Fallujah.
Why was Six Days in Fallujah canceled?
Back in 2009, there was considerable controversy surrounding the announcement of Six Days in Fallujah. Ex-army veterans criticized the project, claiming it "glorified" war and that it was a "flippant response" to the battle of Fallujah. It's worth noting that the battle itself is highly controversial, with the UK Stop the War Coalition referring to it as the "worst of the war crimes" carried out during the Iraq War. The Coalition goes on to say that the battle should not be "glamorised and glossed over" for entertainment's sake.
While original developer Atomic Games played up the documentary aspect of the game in publicity, original publisher Konami took a decidedly different stance. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Konami marketing exec Anthony Crouts said Six Days in Fallujah was not "trying to make people uncomfortable" and was simply attempting to be a "compelling entertainment experience". That description likely did the game no favors, and it was canceled amid controversy in the same year in which it was announced.
Update February 11th 11:02 AM - Victura CEO Peter Tamte told us that the US military isn't involved in making Six Days in Fallujah. Everyone who assisted did so as a private citizen, and the game is receiving funding from private investors. Tamte also said that Six Days in Fallujah would retain the original's "core principles" of a realistic experience and respectful telling of stories, but would feature "much different technology" and new game mechanics. We asked Tamte whether VR was on the cards for the game. He responded that it was something the team was interested in, but "only after the flat-screen versions are released".
We'll bring you more on this game as soon as we get it. The new version of the game will hit PC and consoles in 2021, and Victura says it will reveal more details about the project in the coming weeks. If you're curious, you can wishlist it on Steam right now.
How do you feel about Six Days in Fallujah being revived? Let us know in the comments below!
