We've been told again and again by Sony not to worry about The Last Guardian, and that it's still in development somewhere at one of Sony's various studios. Reports have said that it's now in the hands of Sony Santa Monica, and no longer the work of Team ICO—at least not wholly. However, creator Fumito Ueda has released a statement saying although he no longer works at Sony, he's still heavily involved in the project as a freelancer—which is still in development—and he says to "keep an eye out" for an official announcement.
As some of you may have heard, I left Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio some time ago to pursue my creative passions. Nevertheless, I continue working on THE LAST GUARDIAN as a freelance contributor.
While it’s been a long time coming, THE LAST GUARDIAN remains under my creative supervision and is still in development by an incredibly talented team.
I should also mention that details regarding THE LAST GUARDIAN's release is solely decided by Sony Computer Entertainment, not myself. Please keep an eye out for their official announcement.
Moving forward, it is my intent to continue my involvement with THE LAST GUARDIAN project, as well as pursue new creative projects with a fresh perspective. As I rekindle my passions as a creator, I look forward to seeing where it will take me, and I deeply appreciate your support during this transition.
I find it strange that after all of this time since his departure from Sony, he chooses now, just a week away from the PlayStation Meeting in NYC to give this update on the project, and asking readers to keep an eye out for something more official from Sony.
Could it be what we here at GameRevolution have been saying all along? Team ICO games have never been big sellers, but their artistic impact has done much to separate Sony's consoles from the rest of the pack. Bringing The Last Guardian to the PS4 and debuting a reimagined trailer at the PlayStation Meeting would have a lasting effect on the PS4 and fan's eagerness to pick one up. It would also explain why four years have passed since its initial reveal, without any new footage, news, or a solid release date.
It's only speculation at this point, so don't get your hopes up yet… Do you think The Last Guardian could be in development for the PS4 instead? I sure do. Be sure to listen to last week's episode of GameRevolution Radio to hear my full take on this prediction.
