Remedy Entertainment is no longer making Vanguard project free-to-play

Remedy Entertainment no longer plans to release the upcoming multiplayer game codenamed Vanguard for free. Due to the new path the project is taking, the game will also have a new code name: Kestrel.

The decision for this change of course follows an evaluation between Remedy and Tencent after a proof-of-concept phase, Remedy said in a press release. The two struck a deal in late 2021 for Tencent to publish the free-to-play co-op multiplayer shooter in Asia. In other territories, Remedy will self-publish the game.

The project is now going back to the drawing board and will be a ‘premium game with a strong focus on cooperative multiplayer elements’. The overhaul has seen some of the former Vanguard team redeployed to other ongoing Remedy projects.

Remedy has been working on Vanguard for a long time, which will now continue under the code name Kestrel. Remedy is a Finnish studio and is known for titles such as Alan Wake and Control. Alan Wake II was recently released, for which the developer also announced the arrival of two paid expansions. The studio is also working on remakes of Max Payne and Max Payne 2. Control 2 is also in the concept phase.