Starbreeze defends Syndicate FPS: “Time has moved on”

This week’s official confirmation of Starbreeze’s Syndicate reboot has, predictably enough, resulted in a veritable cataclysm of controversy because it’s an FPS, and not an isometric strategy game like previous titles in the series.

Well, deal with it – another isometric strategy game was never happening, anyway.

“It was always going to be an FPS,” game director Neil McEwan told OXM. “The original nub of the idea was to take that viewpoint from the original game and zoom into the Agent’s head, and play that part. A closer experience – to become one of those Agents.”

He does, however, also confirm that the Persuadatron is back in business, and reassures disgruntled fans that the game is an authentic Syndicate experience, even if it’s something a bit different.

“We’re big fans of the original Syndicate, and we’re definitely paying as much homage to it as we can – bringing across the essence of the world, the core essence of what it is to be an Agent,” he explained.

“That sounds wanky but it’s true – we’re taking the Persuadatron and evolving it in different ways, the weapons and brutality. On both facets of the game, the co-op and the single player, it’s very key to stay true to it.”

“I think the game speaks for itself. We’ve been very lucky to work with a great, original world, and create another facet of it really. I would love them to like it. You’re never going to please everyone. I don’t want people to stop playing the old games, but time has moved on,” McEwan concluded.