Romero Games is developing a smaller-scale shooter that draws inspiration from one of its previously canceled projects

Romero Games, located in Ireland, is pursuing a fresh project after a significant shooter in progress was cancelled by its backer. Although this new undertaking is smaller, it integrates elements from the prior game.

Speaking at the Salón del Videojuego de Madrid 2025, John Romero explained how the company managed to push forward after the cancellation of the earlier game, telling Eurogamer that the new project has undergone a "complete redesign".

This new game is notably less ambitious in scale but draws from the unfinished shooter project.

Romero shared that the cancelled project was valued at $50 million, shedding light on its original scope.

Commenting on the situation, Romero stated, "We managed to pull through despite the game being cancelled," further noting the collaboration of a substantial team of 110 people over multiple years on the initial project.

"Even though the new game diverges from the old one, it will make use of several of its components. Unlike starting from scratch, we're bringing a $50 million game's worth of content into a newly designed indie game. It’s a different design, but we are thrilled with this new direction. It's smaller, letting former directors actively participate in coding and designing, which is their expertise. This benefits us, as smaller teams thrive in such settings."

Romero Games revealed that it ended work on its first-person shooter back in July after the financial backer of the project ceased its support.

While the identity of the publisher remains unknown, speculation has pointed to Microsoft. The announcement coincided with a restructuring by the Xbox parent company, impacting around 9,000 jobs and leading to the cancellation of several projects and the closure of some studios.

Romero Games later refuted claims that it was shutting down due to the cancellation.