When a countdown on Carmageddon.com began ticking away to June 1st, we were pretty sure that it would usher some new game in the long-dormant Carmageddon car combat franchise into the world. After all, the site was called Carmageddon.com. Still, after learning that the site domain was errantly listed as owned by Square Enix Europe (owners of original Carmageddon publisher, SCi), all sorts of possibly scenarios began to percolate. Had some new benefactor purchased the rights to the Carmageddon name from Squeenix Europe? Was Square Enix really behind this, and just deflecting? Was this all a ploy by some European Audi dealership to promote a big summer sale?
Today, we found out as Carmageddon: Reincarnation, a downloadable title from original series developer Stainless Games, was revealed as the title behind the countdown. Stainless reacquired the rights to the series and recently began work on the new title, which it hopes to release in 2012. The press release states that the title is still fairly early in development, and that Stainless is "actively seeking a partner with whom to move the project on to full production."
On the subject of what players could expect from Reincarnation, Stainless co-founder Patrick Buckland clarified that players would not be experiencing a meditation on life and rebirth through the eyes of series veteran Max Damage, as he takes a transcendent journey through time and space in a variety of new forms, both physical and spiritual, but rather will just be driving around killing people and laughing about it like usual.
"Carmageddon: Reincarnation will feature the same black humour and comic violence that made the original game such a success." said Neil Barnden, Executive Director and Stainless co-founder. "All the laughs, the crazy power-ups, and extreme destruction will return. We will make sure the existing fans get what they want and expect from a Carmageddon game, and a new generation discovers the delights of sliding into a Cunning Stunt."
No platforms have thus far been announced, but Stainless has had multiple successes developing titles for the Xbox Live Marketplace in the past. At the very least, an XBLA version would seem likely.