Namco wants to "keep pushing" Enslaved

By Tom Phillips Published 17 May, 2011

But still "no plans" for a sequel.

Namco Bandai wants to "keep pushing" high-budget adventure franchise Enslaved, despite there being no sequel currently in the works.

"We're very much behind it," Namco Bandai's UK marketing manager Lee Kirton stated, speaking to Eurogamer during this week's Eurogamer.net Podcast.

"We've got plans as to where we want to take Enslaved, we want to keep on pushing... maybe to a market that hasn't experienced it yet."

Could a release on other platforms drum up more support for the game? A port to PC or iOS, perhaps? Or maybe an updated and discounted version available to consoles via download?

Kirton was however firm - no sequel is in development. "We currently have no plans for an Enslaved sequel. However, we are still looking at it," he said.

Despite having all the right ingredients, Namco has suggested Enslaved: Journey to the West's release during the frenzied October period last year was poorly timed.

"It's disappointing since it could have and should have done more," Kirton concluded.

Enslaved sales initially failed to break the 500k barrier, although more recent figures revealed a healthier 700,000 total.

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About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

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Comments (43) Latest comment 1 year ago

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

  • UsernamePending #1 1 year ago

    This sounds like hot news to me.

  • orangpelupa #2 1 year ago

    a port to pc will be great but the time is been left too long...
    maybe port to PC and release it cheap as promo for first few days...

  • agparrot #3 1 year ago

    Ooh, £12 from Tesco Online, could be a go-er.

  • Gaol #4 1 year ago

    Here's a tip. Just let it die.

  • HyperTails #5 1 year ago

    Enslaved was brilliant, was my GOTY in 2010. Ninja Theory showed that they really are one of the most talented companies in the world, but unfortunately their games don't get the recognition they deserve. Namco released Enslaved at the wrong time. They should've done it around August-ish.

    I'm not entirely sure i'd like a sequel though. I like unique games that are, literally, individual, and because its just them they stand out and are remembered. Which is why i'm glad they haven't made a sequel to Heavenly Sword. However, the ending certainly left potential for a sequel, and i'm 100% sure that if one was released that Ninja Theory would so another AAA job, and i'd buy it anyway. This game should've sold much more than it has, it deserved to. Unfortunately, uniqueness is ignored by the many.

  • menage #6 1 year ago

    "Despite having all the right ingredients, Kirton suggested its release date during the frenzied October period last year meant gamers didn't have the money in their pockets to purchase it."

    I could have told you that 4 years ago. I wish marketingpeople would get their head out of their ass in that regard. These guys did study for it and did some actual market research I hope. They launched on the same day as Castlevania for god sake.

    Don't put your games against 10 others, direct competition (like BLUR/Split Second or infamous/Prototype did) or COD/Rockstar. Abd if it's new IP stay away from October/ November. Could make you more money you know.

    Shame though. I loved Enslaved.
    Edited by menage at 17/05/11 @ 17:56

  • peacefuloutrage #7 1 year ago

    I think that publishers need to start looking long-term again. Especially with services like games on demand on the consoles, where shelf space is no longer a premium. Expecting a game, especially a new product, to sell a million copies in it's first month is being overly optimistic. Let quality, word of mouth, and time sell the copies you need for the game to be profitable. When the next game in the series comes out, people will be more familiar with it or its developers to make the decision whether it should warrant a full price day one purchase.

  • TONYgr #8 1 year ago

    @HyperTails
    Are you serius?After kung fu chaos on the original x-box it's downhill for those guys.They 've given us just above average games since then.How exactly are one of the most talented companies in the world,i just can't see it.

  • kinky_mong #9 1 year ago

    Namco Bandai pays Eurogamer to "keep writing" about high-budget adventure franchise Enslaved, despite it being a very average adventure with very little actual gameplay that sold what it deserved to.

    Fixed.

  • billy-beauts #10 1 year ago

    Just like Heavenly Sword, the high budget doesn't translate into high times.

  • menage #11 1 year ago

    Enslaved was great imo. just not if you were looking for "hardcore" controls and difficulty. It told a greta story, looked good and was fun though.

    I'm glad games like that are being made, I don't need every game to be this brown, dark, bloody decapitate em up with twitch controls and millions of vague combo's. And simple doesn' t mean crap. Just different.

    Edited by menage at 17/05/11 @ 18:04

  • yoomazir #12 1 year ago

    "We've got plans as to where we want to take Enslaved, we want to keep on pushing... maybe to a market that hasn't experienced it yet."

    Kinect

  • The-Jack-Burton #13 1 year ago

    I want a sequel (or a spiritual sequel), I''ve bought Enslaved for both the 360 and PS3. I was so pissed at the amount of screen tearing on the PS3 version that I decided that I hated the game and that I hated Ninja Theory. But it is an unforgettable game and over time I had to play it again. So I bought it for the 360 was really able to enjoy it. It's great experience more than it is a great game, I want more.
    Edited by The-Jack-Burton at 17/05/11 @ 18:11

  • HyperTails #14 1 year ago

    @TONYgr

    How exactly? Their games are created properly. By that I mean, they take care in their games. They have great voice acting, graphics, characters, the lot. They take their time in making them. It would've been easy for them to chuck out Enslaved in 2008, a year after Heavenly Sword. But no. They created a great story and great gameplay. One of the last few devs left that haven't sold out to a major publisher and I think that the freedom they have translates into their games.

    @kinky_mong

    'Very little actual gameplay'? I think you're confusing it with Metal Gear Solid.

  • thesonglessbird #15 1 year ago

    I enjoyed Enslaved. I thought the acting and MoCap were excellent and the characters were genuinely likeable. If they'd notched up the difficulty and added some more variety to the enemies it would've been better but I still enjoyed it overall.

  • Alatair #16 1 year ago

    @thesonglessbird

    You did play it on hard right? I thought that was quite tough to be honest, but I suppose some people are better at games than others, or at least like more of a challenge than others.

  • Architect_z #17 1 year ago

    Why? Just put more money into Dark Souls?

  • RawNinjaKid #18 1 year ago

    how about a limited edition re-release with some extra stuff?

    I wish EA would still keep "pushing" Mirror's Edge! It's not perfect by any means but still a cool original stylish title. Another game this gen "Wet" is kinda in the same situation, where developers tease news of a sequal, but it gets cancelled or postponed because of poor sales on the PS3/Xbox 360!
    Edited by RawNinjaKid at 17/05/11 @ 18:44

  • brod #19 1 year ago

    I'd buy a quality PC port with Steamworks support (a la Darksiders).

  • HyperTails #20 1 year ago

    @Architect_Z

    You do realise that Dark Souls is hardly going to be a multi-million pound goliath, don't you? Certainly coming out in October makes that a dead certain bet. Funny, because Enslaved came out in early October, as a multi-format release, and its not set the charts on fire.

    I hope Dark Souls does well, Demon's Souls was awesome, but just think about what you type.

  • FladgeMangle #21 1 year ago

    Enslaved was an excellent alternative to Uncharted. Basically the same format but with giant robots. What's not to love?

    Shame they went for the Unreal engine on PS3. I suppose it makes sense in multi-format titles, it's just a pity Epic haven't fixed it yet for the system. Probably never will.

  • FladgeMangle #22 1 year ago

    Trip and Monkey though.. ouch! Did you see the size of his fingers? She's going to be walking like she has rickets after their first night together...

    (sorry)

  • The-Jack-Burton #23 1 year ago

    @fladgemangle I totally agree with you and very funny

  • HyperTails #24 1 year ago

    @FladgeMangle

    +1 That post made me lol

  • bad09 #25 1 year ago

    Tell you what Namco, send it over to us on PC and I'll buy it. I have absolutely no interest to be fair but I've heard a few good things about this game and if it encourages you to send the fighters over our way to I'll throw you a bone.

  • Ahskay #26 1 year ago

    Enslaved was fun and holds potential to be a great IP. More freedom and a better camera would help. The story is one of it's many plusses but the tearing (forgiveable but still disturbing) and the silly camera needs to be fixed.

    How about a download only title that lasts for 6 hrs and continues the story, with a price range of 10-15 euros this would sell very well. Make Trip and Monkey (give her a shooting thingy) available in co-op also.

    Re-releasing a special edition that fixes the camera and tearing with a discounted price would also sell very well. I would even buy it again to support this great story.
    Edited by Ahskay at 17/05/11 @ 19:29

  • Nuada #27 1 year ago

    "Namco Bandai wants to "keep pushing" high-budget adventure franchise Enslaved, despite there being no sequel currently in the works. "

    Isn't this exactly what DLC is for?

  • metalangel #28 1 year ago

    @RawNinjaKid: Wet was awful! A nice idea, but awful.

  • HyperTails #29 1 year ago

    ^^^

    Agreed, Wet was crap. Nice soundtrack though.

  • daz_john_smith #30 1 year ago

    Wouldn't be surprised if Monkey turned up in Soul Calibur 5

  • thedriffter50 #31 1 year ago

    Don't see what people see in this game its very average and sold what it deserved.

    I don't know what their problem is. Anyone remember GTA 1 ? It sold less then a million yet Rockstar pushed the series and now its one of the highest selling series in history.

    Next time advertise it but this time make sure there is a game under that story and graphics.
    Edited by thedriffter50 at 17/05/11 @ 21:14

  • DarthMartious #32 1 year ago

    Just watched the first 15 minutes video - this looks like a tremendously exciting game and exactly my sort of thing. Surprised and slightly annoyed that it slipped under my radar, but now since it's only £12 new it's a must have!

  • Lee_Morris #33 1 year ago

    It was a summer blockbuster game through and through. Such a brilliant game get left in the shadows because of stupid publisher decisions *sigh*

  • cwk27 #34 1 year ago

    @Kinky_mong: I somehow doubt they had enough marketing budget to do so...If they did, they would have pumped it into more direct marketing for the game.

  • apoc_reg #35 1 year ago

    how about letting me find my own way around. the entirety of navigating in the gsme is holding forwards and pressing A. shockily boring navigation.... and the highlighting.

    pity as would be good if the adventure parts were not made for 4 year olds.

  • Inmediasress #36 1 year ago

    It looks like a nice game when it first came out I was interested in it was sad there was no pc port.
    It would be nice if they ported it to pc.

  • Code_R #37 1 year ago

    Pushing for what? A few more 15 quid (or less) sales after all this time? They made the mistake of releasing at a badly chosen moment in the year, and had to deal with sales split with Lords of Shadow. That's it, that's their lot. There's nothing left to see here, a sequel isn't going to happen.

  • omniscient #38 1 year ago

    It's a great game for gamers who care more for the experience than the challenge. It's lack of challenge is a complaint many send its way but it more than makes up for it with a fresh, emotional and beautiful experience. 99.99% of games aim to challenge your fingers this just aims to challenge your emotions and it succeeds, don't fault a game for be different.

  • stryker1121 #39 1 year ago

    ^^a little more challenge wouldn't of hurt, omniscent.I mean you could platform w/ your eyes closed basically.

  • goatjugsoup #40 1 year ago

    I was looking forward to this game but when I finally got it I found it to be not very responsive in parts which definitely put a damper on the fun
    Edited by goatjugsoup at 18/05/11 @ 01:00

  • beatwolf #41 1 year ago

    GO ENSLAVED!!!

  • bikmate #42 1 year ago

    That's it, I'm buying this game right now...brb

    edit: done. will be playing it by this time tomorrow ;)
    Edited by bikmate at 18/05/11 @ 01:31

  • imyj #43 1 year ago

    Ninja Theory are a great studio, but I really didn't understand Enslaved. The ending was confusing. The art was really good, but that's not enough to carry it. Throughout the game I constantly felt like my hand was being held. "We need to find a way over there"... OKAY COOL, I'LL LOOK AROUN- *cut scene* "I HAVE IDENTIFIED THE ROUTE HERE". Also, pressing jump + directional stick pretty much showed how linear the level design was. It didn't make sense in my head that I could jump over huge distances; yet I couldn't jump over the smallest of objects at my feet.