Mirror's Edge still "important" for EA

By Fred Dutton Published 17 February, 2011

Publisher won't confirm sequel cancellation.

EA has refused to confirm recent reports that development of a Mirror's Edge sequel has been stopped, insisting the free-running FPS franchise is still in its thoughts.

Following news earlier this week that the publisher had allegedly declined a sequel proposal from developer DICE, an EA spokesperson told 1Up that it was still "an important franchise".

However, the spokesperson added that EA had "nothing further to announce" regarding its future plans for the series.

Mirror's Edge launched on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in 2008 to strong reviews but middling sales.

"For those who can shrug off the contradictions and the limitations, ignore the tearing cityscape and lingering qualms about value for money, this will shove you so deeply into the experience of being in someone else's body, and taking it on a terrifying, breakneck joyride, that nothing else will matter." wrote Eurogamer's Christian Donlan in his 8/10 review.

An enjoyable 2D spin-off launched on the iPad in 2010 and last summer a "small team" at DICE was reportedly working on a full console sequel.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • mooseti #1 1 year ago

    I adored this game, and it reaffirmed my faith that EA could actually make a 'good' game.

  • themorganator #2 1 year ago

    would definitely buy the sequel - the first game was brilliant. Come on EA, we are waiting!

  • Vortex808 #3 1 year ago

    Agreed with this. Please don't cancel it EA, it was a really good game, and a sequel has the potential to be great. I promise I will buy a sequel!

  • patchbox360 #4 1 year ago

    excellent game

  • Cheapshot #5 1 year ago

    If any game needs a sequel, it's this. The first game was flawed genius, with so much potential; at the best of times it felt like the first person Sonic I never thought I craved. I didn't think DICE had it in them to make a game like this. They've toiled and made enough successful, identikit Battlefield games.

    Give 'em a bloody chance EA and prove you're not like Activision.

  • LazyNinjaUk #6 1 year ago

    Was really disappointed to read the news article the other day about this, can only hope at worse it's just on hold. I praise DICE for at least trying something more unique than the 100 FPS clones out there. I really like Mirrors Edge and I'd definitely get behind a sequel.

    A lot of review sites fobbed the game off as a "glorified tech demo", well if it is, than that is one tech demo I was more than happy to spend money on.

  • disappointed #7 1 year ago

    Mirror's Edge was, for me, the closest any game has come to recapturing the fun of the original Prince of Persia. It was refreshing in both style and gameplay - a clever mix of puzzle and platformer, with just enough danger to keep things moving. It had a variety of pace that's almost always absent from modern games. Throwing big money at a sequel seems like a no-brianer to me.

  • Gojiratron #8 1 year ago

    The original was a first class piece of game design and is in my top 5 games of this generation.

    A sequel would defo be a day one purchase for me.

  • gjgjg #9 1 year ago

    I'd buy a sequal. Take my cash EA

  • SHPanda #10 1 year ago

    As I said in the other topic, it was a great game and only dropped the ball sales wise because it was given no real marketing push.

  • Gojiratron #11 1 year ago

    "A lot of review sites fobbed the game off as a "glorified tech demo", well if it is, than that is one tech demo I was more than happy to spend money on."

    At first it does seem like that to be fair. It's fun but hard to play properly when you don't know the level layouts and as a result your progress becomes stuttery as you play well for a bit, then stop because you don't know what you're doing or where you're going. Basically it looks great watching an expert play it but learning it yourself requires a level of patience that many people don't seem to have nowadays. It's only when you go for all 3 stars in the Time Attack stages that you appreciate just how much care and thought has gone into the level design. I felt that they were actually lateral thinking puzzles that require absolute mastery of the deceptively simple controls. Even when you eventually figured out how to do the task, actually pulling off a perfect run took real skill to do it in a quick enough time.

    I'm not a big advocate of Achievements personally but I think the 50 Star unlock is the one I found most satisfying even if it did nearly see a pad getting thrown at the wall during the process. :D

  • Optimaximal #12 1 year ago

    I suppose the original 'cancelled' announcement was just news that EA had refused a few prototypes of what 'could' be a ME sequel - unless those prototypes are revealed, we'll never know what DICE was planning or why EA refused them.

  • SHPanda #13 1 year ago

    I don't get why I'm being marked down for saying the game was great and sales were only lower than EA wanted because of a lack of a real marketing push.

  • metalangel #14 1 year ago

    I'm sure it's coming... and if you buy it new, you'll find a 16-digit code inside the box to download DLC enabling the 'jump' button!

  • Goodfella #15 1 year ago

    For all it's flaws (combat mainly) this was one game that I'm so glad I bought, absolutely loved the first person perspective 'platforming', beautifully implemented and designed and the time trials were very addictive.

    I will be very disappointed if there isn't a second game.

  • persus-9 #16 1 year ago

    Hmm I wonder if all the press the cancellation got and all disappointment it generated is making EA rethink this? It would make sense if it was a close decision and the press was greater and the public more upset than anticipated. After all a great deal of public awareness of games comes from the press so if EA now realise that the press are interested in Mirror's Edge and want to cover it that has to be a positive thing for EA. Similarly those of us who read and comment on gaming news sites may not be typical of the consumers that AAA games need to reach but we are valuable advertising multiplier, a link between the publishers and our more normal friends who don't follow games so avidly.

    And yeah, I would love the chance to buy more Mirror's Edge because in spite of it's flaws the first one was still bloody brilliant.
    Edited by persus-9 at 17/02/11 @ 22:29

  • SHPanda #17 1 year ago

    @doomed_soul - I don't doubt it had flaws, nor do I think it sold poorly, 2m is a great number, but EA wanted more from it especially after the positive 8/10 average reviews.

    My point was if EA wanted the big sales they had to flaunt the game, push it with marketing. Reviews and gameplay can't sell a game even without it's flaws if the mainstream don't know of its existence. They didn't market it and sales didn't meet EAs expectations, simples.

    And if you want MP, Deathmatch etc isn't the way to go. Cat and Mouse games and Races are the direction it needs to take. Racing over roof tops or one person gunning from a helicopter, the other trying to run from A to B without dying. You could even have a Flag/Bag tag mode from most FPS games just without the need to shoot/kill the current occupier, i.e. most times holding the bag/flag within the time limit wins.
    Edited by SHPanda at 17/02/11 @ 22:37

  • cherryuk #18 1 year ago

    I downloaded the demo ages ago, but the controls to do some of the moves, just too tricky even for a seasoned gamer like me!

  • ShiroBen #19 1 year ago

    One of my favourite games of this generation--heck, of all time. Flawed but wonderful, I'd buy a sequel without hesitation, day one pre-order.

  • Mister-Wario #20 1 year ago

    I really do pray a sequel gets made. Mirror's Edge was a flawed but bold and original game that deserves to be revisited. Unlike other titles I could mention.

  • Drygore #21 1 year ago

    To the two first posters.
    EA didnt make it at all, they published it. My countrymen at DICE made it.

    It's funny how many people often think the publishers are the creators.. See it all the time.

  • Collymilad #22 1 year ago

    I loved ME so much.

    So EA, either cancel it or confirm the sequel, stop screwing around.

    Sadly, what I've heard so far sounds like "we aren't going to cancel it, YET" talk tbh.

  • gamerhuggster #23 1 year ago

    The original was gloriously presented and left one breathless and rushing with adrenalin. It was a brave and innovative move by EA to release a game that was let down only by some somewhat linear level design and some frustratingly over precise gameplay demands. Mirror's Edge is the classic example of a flawed masterpiece and I would love to see the release of an improved sequel.

  • Derblington #24 1 year ago

    Drygore

    A) There are more than just Swedes at DICE :p
    B) EA still get to decide what's made

  • Tinrib72 #25 1 year ago

    Original was one of the few games that I played constantly until completition, ignoring all my other games. Frustrating at times and could have done without the shooting bits (even though that was sparse), but a helluva ride!

    Oh and the speed runs was mucho fun racing against ghosts. Loved it.

    Edited by Tinrib72 at 18/02/11 @ 08:55

  • dagas #26 1 year ago

    I loved the look of the game more than anything else. Whatever they do I hope they keep it.

  • tancredo #27 1 year ago

    Mirror's Edge 1 or 2, in 3rd person = Great Kinect posibilities. It is the first IP that came to my mind when I first saw Kinect.

  • gorf #28 1 year ago

    @dagas

    "I loved the look of the game more than anything else"

    Couldnt agree more with this statement. It reminded me in a bizzarre way of Shenmue. It wasnt so much playing the game but experiencing the beautiful envoiroment the programmers had created.

  • Diogo_Ribeiro #29 1 year ago

    Cut out the nonsense story, drop weapons, focus on the movement like you did in the Pure DLC or whatever it was called, and do it.

  • Sunyavadin #30 1 year ago

    If they did decide not to make it, would that mean that EA destroyed Langdell purely AS AN ACT OF CHARITY?


    :o

  • tancredo #31 1 year ago

    By Jumping
    By Sliding
    By ducking
    I did not say it will work perfectly. I just said it has possibilities based on how game and tech work,
    Besides, I game for fun. I don't need to spend 3 hours examining the physics of a game in order to have fun with it