11 Bit Studios and the farewell to Project 8: changing directions at the Frostpunk studio

The Project 8, which promised to be the first game from 11 bit studios focused exclusively on consoles, has been officially canceled. The decision came after an internal analysis revealed that the title, initially conceived for a market more receptive to deep narratives and story-based games, no longer fit modern industry trends.

In a statement, the studio's president, Przemysław Marszał, pointed out that challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, budget limitations, and accumulated development issues created an unsustainable lack of perspective for the project. According to him, "Project 8 was born in a very different market context, when narrative games had greater appeal."

In addition to the creative impact, the cancellation brought practical consequences: team members were either laid off or redirected to other ongoing projects. The exact number of layoffs was not disclosed, but it reflects the impact of strategic decisions on the studio's management.

As the studio tries to reorganize its priorities, it is important to remember the recent success with Frostpunk 2, awarded as Best Strategy Game at The Game Awards. The title, currently available for PC, will also have versions for PS5 and Xbox Series, although a confirmed release date for the ports is still pending.

The cancellation of Project 8 marks a significant change for 11 bit studios, highlighting the challenges of aligning creative visions with the demands of the contemporary market.