The Last Guardian creator Fumito Ueda leaves Sony - rumour

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 30 November, 2011

Goes freelance to finish PlayStation 3 exclusive.

Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian creator Fumito Ueda has left Sony, Eurogamer understands.

Japanese video game development sources indicated the 41-year-old is working on finishing oft-delayed PlayStation 3 exclusive The Last Guardian in a freelance capacity.

Ueda's departure from Sony internal development studio Team Ico is one of the reasons for the game's protracted development, Eurogamer was told.

Following the completion of the game, Ueda will embark on personal projects.

In September Sony reassured gamers that Team Ico was still "hard at work" on The Last Guardian, despite the high-profile PS3 exclusive missing the Tokyo Game Show.

The previous month SCE Studios president Shuhei Yoshida gave an exasperated-sounding Last Guardian progress update:

"It's been very difficult in terms of seeing the progress: not as fast as we'd been hoping for, and the team has been under big pressure," he said.

The Last Guardian was delayed earlier this year to an unspecified time in 2012. The cat-eagle adventure was originally slated for a "late 2011" release.

Ueda was director and lead designer on PlayStation 2 games Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, which both took four years to develop.

The Last Guardian was first mentioned as being in development over four years ago, in February 2007, by Japanese magazine Famitsu. It was eventually revealed at E3 2009 with an eye-catching trailer. However, it failed to show at E3 2011, Gamescom 2011 and Tokyo Game Show 2011.

Sony told Eurogamer it does not comment on rumour and speculation.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (57) Latest comment 2 months ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ZuluHero #1 3 months ago

    I'm expecting an "update" to this article in about.. say.. five minutes? :)

  • King_Edward #2 3 months ago

    Oh no and yet oh yay! Hope he keeps making wonderful games and hasn't gone off to build playgrounds.
    Edited by 1 at 30/11/11 @ 17:10

  • MattEdWithCheese #3 3 months ago

    "Eurogamer understands."

  • estel #4 3 months ago

    I doubt he'll find many studios more lenient that Sony in allowing him to not actually release any games ever.

  • Innes #5 3 months ago

    Rumour - I am GOD

  • onyxbox #6 3 months ago

    This could mean the game is pretty much done now and he's just keeping an eye on things as the wheels are put in motion for final QA etc.

    I can't wait to see how this game turns out.

  • DavidBoring #7 3 months ago

    i dont comment on rumours and speculation
    Edited by 1 at 30/11/11 @ 17:14

  • Yeoung #8 3 months ago

    Well if he's going freelance, I hope he'll jump into the downloadable scene. I'm sure he could deliver some great games on a smaller scale. I'd hate to see his particular style of games dissapear altogether, so hopefully he's just going freelance to develop future projects multiplat, rather than focus on portables or even other media.

  • DBLue #9 3 months ago

    Catching sight of the title on the front page I almost freaked out. Hope he stays on the team at least until the game is finished; would hate to see the project stuck in the development hell (Although that already seems to be the case. Shivers!)

    By the way, wherever Ueda goes console-wise I'll follow. The Last Guardian is the main reason I got a PS3 over a 360.

  • Cjail #10 3 months ago

    I hope it not true.
    Sony always had faith Ueda and always supported his work, even if his games were not a commercial success!
    I really hope it is just a rumor becuse, from my point of view, it was a perfect marriage.
    Edited by 2 at 30/11/11 @ 17:22

  • seeafish #11 3 months ago

    @DBLue that's dedication lady and gentlemen!

  • SalarymanDaishi #12 3 months ago

    Oh yes, The Last Guardian... Almost forgot it already but I suppose it's still coming and I hope the delay is mostly related to figuring out how to keep that damn adorable thing from dying in the end.

    Spiteful sarcasm aside, there never was a cult classic masterpiece conceived out of hype. ICO achieved absolutely everything by its own and Shadow of the Colossus more or less followed suit.

    By now The Last Guardian joins the ranks of Beyond Good & Evil 2 and the Final Fantasy VII remake, i.e. jubilant fantasies that might as well be left as nothing but dreams.

    Die-hard fans would still go crazy, sure, but no longer in the way gamers in general go crazy these days.
    Edited by 1 at 30/11/11 @ 17:35

  • carlosdfn #13 3 months ago

    WTF?!

  • bergzee #14 3 months ago

    Work-shy twat.

  • Pehmu #15 3 months ago

    41-year-old? No way, the man looks to be in his late twenties.

  • lcmnick #16 3 months ago

    Oh man.

  • evnewell #17 3 months ago

    This guy makes exceptionally boring games... and he takes a long time to make them.

    (I'm almost negging myself for this comment, but it's true)

  • photoboy #18 3 months ago

    "Ueda's departure from Sony internal development studio Team Ico is one of the reasons for the game's protracted development, Eurogamer was told."

    I'm not sure I understand why the game would take longer to develop just because he has decided to leave (especially if it's a recent development).

    Could it be there's been a translation error and in fact Ueda's departure is because of the game's protracted development? That seems more likely to me given the way the game has missed every release window that has been announced.

  • kinky_mong #19 3 months ago

    @estel: Made me laugh!

  • captain_Carl #20 3 months ago

    Seems strange. Sony always had a lot of faith in him and gave him what he wanted, let him make whatever he wanted, and continued to support him when his projects weren't massive sellers.

    I doubt he'll find many other publishers as lenient on him

  • des #21 3 months ago

    uh oh
    big blow to Sony if true

  • Psychotext #22 3 months ago

    Be right back I've got to put a few people in the Eurogamer Team Ico group on suicide watch...

  • Yuroko #23 3 months ago

    This will be one of those rumours that end up with him leaving Sony and signing a deal with Activision to get him to make the next James Bond game for them.

  • Triggerhappytel #24 3 months ago

    This would be a terrible shame for Sony if true - Ueda is among my most revered game creators working today. If it turns out to-be true, I hope he realises he's not going to find another publisher who allows him the same level of creative freedom as Sony have done.

  • Dizzy #25 3 months ago

    >I hope he realises he's not going to find another publisher who allows him the same level of creative freedom as Sony have done.

    Sometimes i wonder if you guys live on the same planet as me?

  • captain_Carl #26 3 months ago

    @Dizzy Name another publisher that would allow him to take 5 or 6 years on a project with still no release date. Whilst continuing to support him and pour money into his game?

  • NewbieZilla #27 3 months ago

    @captain_Carl Nintendo.

  • jack24 #28 3 months ago

    Ueda at Nintendo would be ossum!

  • silversun #29 3 months ago

    Shocked by this news.
    If its true hopefully will still see more great creative talent from him.
    I think video game creators do have there own style.
    Sure a studio or team can go on, just look at modern warfare.
    Sometimes it just not the same though.
    At least the game is still being made , looking forward to it.

  • captain_Carl #30 3 months ago

    @NewbieZilla HAHAHAHAHAHA

  • TonyHarrison #31 3 months ago

    This would be a shame if true, but I can't deny my train of thought was something like 'I wonder if he's going multiplatform, or maybe even to one of the other two, wow I wonder what he could do with something like Zelda'.

    Probably no chance of that though.

  • Hindle #32 3 months ago

    Im calling it The LG will be canned.

  • JumpinJackFlash #33 3 months ago

    He's Sony's Shigeru Miyamoto. This would be a massive blow to Sony if he did leave.

  • dingo75 #34 3 months ago

    @DBlue: What about if he goes PC only as indie?

  • super_monty #35 3 months ago

    Freelance with a Microsoft exclusive maybe, I bet they would sell a lot more 360s(or720s) in Japan if he worked for them.

  • DBLue #36 3 months ago

    @dingo75 My PC is getting old, but should that be the case, I'd upgrade it. It wouldn't be a problem.

    Now, seriously. Shadow of the Colossus was the most intense, revelatory experience I ever had playing a video game. It was almost transcedental. It was the ultimate video game - an extremely minimalistic piece of work, yet with the bare minimum of game design staples it managed to incite an emotional response that I never had before, from any other entertainment medium. Even today I still get goosebumps just from booting up the game and listening to the intro song.

    Fumito Ueda is a goddamn genius and nothing is going to stop me from playing whatever he produces =D

  • rotmm #37 3 months ago

    @JumpingJackFlash, "He's Sony's Shigeru Miyamoto."

    Nope, not even close.

  • JumpinJackFlash #38 3 months ago

    @rotmm

    I don't think so, they (Sony) hold him in high regard, enough to delay titles for him.
    Edited by 1 at 30/11/11 @ 22:48

  • HeNiCiDe1988 #39 3 months ago

    they must of fallen out him and sony, maybe they where wanting ten last guardians.

  • rotmm #40 3 months ago

    @JumpinJackFlash,

    Sorry, I'm confused. Shigeru Miyamoto, with the creation of Donkey Kong, took a struggling Japanese coin-op company from the brink of receivership to a global powerhouse, has created some of the best known videogame characters in the world, has developed some of the biggest selling videogame titles of all time, has almost single-handedly dragged gaming from neing a niche 'nerd' pastime to, with titles such as Wii Sports, a truly respectable family form of entertainment. And most of all, the games he creates are genuine system sellers.

    Fumito Ueda has created two truly beautiful games.

    As fantastic they both are, they don't even belong in the same catagory.

  • sfp_noodle #41 3 months ago

    I don't understand what the fuss is about? Even if he has left Sony, he's still going to complete TLG and it's still going to remain exclusive to PS3.

    I do agree that he'd feel far more restricted elsewhere. Sony in general are very supportive of their devs (Polyphony Digital, Evolution Studios, Team Ico, Quantic Dream, Media Molecule) and don't let low sales figures or long development cycles stop them from trying something new. They encourage strong diversity in their line-up. Ueda would not find that level of support elsewhere.

    To the guys mentioning Nintendo - Are you crazy? They've stubbornly stuck to the same IPs for over 25 years do you honestly think Ueda would have a chance to create something new and innovative with them? No chance. This will be a loss to Sony, but ultimately it will be Ueda that regrets the decision if has indeed decided to walk away.

  • JumpinJackFlash #42 3 months ago

    @rotmm

    Clearly my comment went over your head.

  • rotmm #43 3 months ago

    @JumpingJackFlash,

    What commment? The one that Ueda is to Sony what Miyamoto is to Nintendo, and the proof of that is Sony are willing to delay a title that Ueda is working on?

    I admit, that rationalisation went so far over my head that I still don't have a fucking clue what you are on about.

  • JumpinJackFlash #44 3 months ago

    @rotmm

    You didn't read between the lines, my comment wasn't a like for like. When i said "He's Sony's Shigeru Miyamoto." i mean Sony fans love him, they love his games, just like Nintendo fans love Miyamoto.

    Also, the fact that he's so tied to the PlayStation brand and known for creating PS software, it would be a lost to Sony to lose him.

    You on the other hand, took my comment for a like for like with Shigeru Miyamoto, which is just silly.

  • rotmm #45 3 months ago

    @JumpingJackFlash,

    That makes more sense. However, your comment of "This would be a massive blow to Sony if he did leave" led me to the other conclusion, as Ueda leaving would have almost no effect on Sony at all.

    While Ueda's games are well regarded by both critics and core gamers, they are not sales powerhouses and I seriously doubt that more than a small percentage os Sony console owners would even notice his absence.

    So it would be sad, but not a blow.

    If Miyamoto were to leave Nintendo however.... ;)

  • mukki #46 3 months ago

    Read the title and had a heart attack...
    But alas it could that this elusive game might come out at one point, maybe...
    I sure hope I been waiting for this for? 2 years? Or as it been longer...

  • Stockings #47 3 months ago

    I'd forgot all about this game.
    I'm happy to wait a bit longer for the magic to arrive.

  • TazerFan #48 3 months ago

    Yikes. Vaporware?

  • Hellion83 #49 3 months ago

    Post deleted at 20:12:17 01-02-2012

  • vizzini #50 3 months ago

    After the 2009 leak of Last Guardian footage before E3, and no official source for the video being exposed. I wouldn't be that surprised if it is just business as usual at Team Ico, and this is a ruse by Sony to flush out the cause of an information breach they suspect they have.

    But if the information is true, and he is now just working in a Sega Suzuki role then I hope they now keep the project as a launch title for PS4.

    No doubt Team Ico are under pressure to add features such as Vita play, 3D and move controls to the Last Guardian. But to do so with such an ambitious title using AI in the way the videos have shown, I'm not sure they can still have the high quality visual impact they want for the game with those features; short of dropping down to SD resolution.

    After the way GT5 was released a little abruptly without suffering by sales or play experience(imo), it seems that the new management in Sony are far more financially switched on with their Japanese studios than in the past.

    I would love to see Last guardian do MW3 numbers over its lifetime, but realistically Sony management are probably just hoping it does equally well as UC3 which had great sales. But then again ND have released 3 games in the same R&D window.

  • chris_ace #51 3 months ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Kaminari #52 3 months ago

    Told you.

  • Astro-Creature #53 3 months ago

    As long as he finishes TLG first, I don't care.

  • ToAks #54 3 months ago

    uh, which source did this come from?

    Ueda San Said that he love working with SONY just a few months ago in the Team ICO HD collection.

    Team ICO members stated that Ueda was the reason the games was so detailed and good,and that he is a very talented guy etc.

    Sony said they where proud to have the team and Ueda under its wing, and how special his titles was etc.

    3D support for TLG was talked about at the screening some of us lucky ones got to see at a tradeshow some years back ;)
    As for Move support and Vita, who knows ... we basically know nothing about the game but then again we knew nothing about ICO nor SOTC either till just before its release date.

    if this rumor turns out to be true then i'd love to know the reason for all of this..

    Sony has lost quite a few good teams/individuals over the last few years :( , and as soon as they went away most of the teams got split up and went their own way to create less creative and fun games :-(,atleast for console(s).

    Anyway, God Of War 3 turned out awesome even without 2 of the core guys from the GOW 1 and 2.

  • Obli #55 3 months ago

    @evnewell exceptionally boring games? All down to personal preference and taste. I hate Hollywood action films but you might well like them.

  • webcider #56 2 months ago

    This looks like i never need to buy a PS4 then, the only games really selling PS for me is Wipeout and Team Ico games. It looks like emotional games are out a shame it was such a ride when it lasted, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus had such a emotional world it was unbeliavable firt time experiencing this. Compared to other games this was truly a different and thats probably why many people don't see them as a good thing, to think that games can produce other kind of experiences than just "fun" thats quite a achievement, but none the less gamers felt no fun in riding the horse instead you got emotionally attached to it in ways no other video game has ever done. Thx Ueda you were sony's only light. The other developers and apparantly quite a large part of the gaming public will just never know but i have never had a more emotional experience than Shadow of the Colossus or ICO in any game ever. i seriously hope that The last Guardian is releasing in some sort of Premium box only for true Team ICO appricators so we can give you all the money we own :) its that good.

  • Abdu@EG #57 2 months ago

    @vizzini
    YES, 3D and Move are the big problems here.

    Sony care about them TOO MUCH. GT5 have some laughable graphics because of the 3D, the damn console can't handle all that. FU*K the 3D