EA Finally Stops Pretending it Isn't Remaking Syndicate, Announces Syndicate Remake

As worst-kept secrets in the industry go, few secrets have been worse-kept than that of EA's upcoming Syndicate remake. Between leaked copyright filings, constant rumors of Swedish developer Starbreeze handling the project, and EA actually leaking the project's existence over the weekend by accidentally posting details to its own Origin service, it's safe to say that everyone saw this one coming.

Cyberpunk? Human augmentation? Nope, it's not Deus Ex: Human Revolution DLC. It's Syndicate!

But much as one might feign shock during a spoiled surprise birthday party, just so as not to disappoint their significant other who spent so much time putting this whole thing together and then just inadvertently left one of the party invites sitting around on the kitchen table for you to find, let's all sit here and pretend we're really surprised and shocked that EA today announced that it is, in fact, remaking Syndicate, with developer Starbreeze on board to turn the former tactical-strategy franchise into a first-person shooter. Seriously, look surprised, or EA's PR people are going to start sobbing again.

According to the press release, this new Syndicate doesn't sound too far off from its cyberpunk predecessors, taking place in a "Machiavellian society" in the year 2069 full of corporations running rampant over a government-less landscape. The three dominant corporations--Eurocorp, Cayman Global, and Aspari--are constantly jockeying for control of a world where everything is digitally interconnected, including its people.

Players will be able to take advantage of a specialized microchip technology that allows them to slow down time and "breach the digital world around them to take down their foes using a variety of upgradable hacking mechanics." As an added bonus, Syndicate will also feature a four-player co-op mode, with reworked versions of missions from the original Syndicate.

If there is one detail of some surprise to be found in this announcement, it's that Syndicate is currently set for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in early 2012. That is, as you may know, soon.

159 Comments

shiftymagician

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Edited By shiftymagician

I can't get angry about this as I've never played Syndicate. I'll be neutral about it and see if the game is fun or not regardless of name. I like Cyberpunk.

12 years ago

Tennmuerti

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Edited By Tennmuerti

FPS? - fucking pathetic

The game can be good or bad, like people said we can't judge yet.

But it's sure as shit isn't going to be a Syndicate game.

Wuddel

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Edited By Wuddel

@Tennmuerti said:

FPS? - fucking pathetic
The game can be good or bad, like people said we can't judge yet.
But it's sure as shit isn't going to be a Syndicate game.

QFT

kadayi

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Edited By kadayi

@sthusby: Agreed. I think because it's 'FPS' people's perception is warped by the 'S'. Portal 2 is an FPS, but it's a completely different experience from say MW2. Right now there's really not enough data to go on to determine much about the workings of the game at this stage.

As for the people wondering why it's not going to be Isometric. The answer lies in the fact that they game wasn't that complex in the first place (it's no C&C or Starcraft). Sure it would be entirely possible to make an updated isometric version, but even it was 100% faithful to the original, it wouldn't be a title that set the world alight at launch in terms of sales or awards.

kerikxi

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Edited By kerikxi

I always liked the between mission stuff in Syndicate more than the missions themselves. Controlling your whole squad was always a pain. FPS works just fine for me. I think this has promise, but it's still too early obviously.

Boopie

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Edited By Boopie

why not make it a DOTA rip off? instead of another FPS?? I'm not sure what a DOTA is but I hear it a lot these days

Helgi

Edited By Helgi

I have no idea what Syndicate is but I'm excited since this is a first person shooter from Starbreeze.

mus

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Edited By mus

Played the first games all those years ago, loved them and still love the games. So this is going to be in first person. I think Starbreeze took a few pages out from Bethesda with Fallout 3. A risque maneuver by them, however I hope they prove people wrong and a good game can be done.

I liked the original style of the game. Shame they are not going to stick to Bullfrog's isometric strategy game. However I remain resolute that it will be a good game, if not, I shall be bloomin' annoyed if it is not.

DJJoeJoe

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Edited By DJJoeJoe

@Mus said:

Played the first games all those years ago, loved them and still love the games. So this is going to be in first person. I think Starbreeze took a few pages out from Bethesda with Fallout 3. A risque maneuver by them, however I hope they prove people wrong and a good game can be done.
I liked the original style of the game. Shame they are not going to stick to Bullfrog's isometric strategy game. However I remain resolute that it will be a good game, if not, I shall be bloomin' annoyed if it is not.

Starbreeze can do good and unique first person games, so there's easily the potential for this to be at least pretty cool if not amazing. Plus we need more cyberpunk up in here.

Giant Bomb News

EA Finally Stops Pretending it Isn't Remaking Syndicate, Announces Syndicate Remake

by Alex Navarro on September 12, 2011
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159 Comments

Giant Bomb News

EA Finally Stops Pretending it Isn't Remaking Syndicate, Announces Syndicate Remake

by Alex Navarro on September 12, 2011Share:TwitterFacebookReddit

159 Comments

by Alex Navarro on September 12, 2011
Share:Twitter Facebook Reddit