Crytek's Ryse: Son of Rome Had Ambitious Plans for a Franchise

Crytek's Ryse: Son of Rome, released in 2013, was a visually stunning game that showcased the capabilities of the Xbox One. However, the game's development was marred by a rushed timeline and significant cuts to content. According to former employees, the game's short length of around 6 hours was a result of the development team being pushed to meet launch day deadlines.

The game's art director, Patrick Hanenberger, has spoken about the ambitious plans for the Ryse franchise. He led a team of concept artists and historians to develop the concept for the series, which was initially designed to be set in ancient Rome. The team aimed to create a franchise that would take the series beyond Rome, but ultimately, the project was cut back due to time constraints.

The impact of the rushed development can still be seen in the game today. While Ryse: Son of Rome is still a visually stunning game, its short length and lack of content have been criticized by many. The game's developers have spoken about the challenges they faced during development, but it is clear that the game could have been even better with more time and resources.

The Ryse franchise has since been put on hold, but the game's legacy lives on as an example of the challenges faced by game developers. The game's ambition and scope are a testament to the creativity and vision of the development team, and it is clear that they had big plans for the series. Despite the game's flaws, Ryse: Son of Rome remains a visually stunning game that is worth playing for its cinematic gameplay and impressive visuals.