Titanfall: Frontline ceases development

Premature franchisation - two games do not a franchise make

Titanfall: Frontline's deveopers Particle City were forced to cease development on their Titanfall themed CCG late last week.

{
  "dataId": 1,
  "configuration": {
    "id": "e1882173242",
    "dataId": 1,
    "isInline": false,
    "alignment": "center",
    "content": ""
  },
  "isInline": false,
  "id": "e1882173242",
  "type": "widget/system",
  "alignment": "center",
  "componentName": "GenericSystemWidget"
}

While it is always regrettable to see a project get cancelled, it doesn't really come as much of a surprise in this case. Certain established companies and franchises can usually get away with slapping a branded skin over a game, like Blizzard with Hearthstone, Bethesda with its Pinball or Games Workshop With their Horus Heresy CCG, sometimes it just doesn't work, no matter how hard you might try.

The Titanfall "franchise" has two games behind its belt. These two games might be critically acclaimed and well received by audiences, but it's way to early to start throwing around terms like "iconic" in the way Star Wars games do way to often.

AndroidAuth Titanfall: Frontline

The idea that Titanfall's fluid, fast paced and dynamic gameplay would transfer well onto a card game is one that can only flourish in an environment where commodification of everything in sight is not only seen as healthy, but even encouraged to the point of absurdity. I'm not saying EA's sticky fingerprints are all over this ambitious failure, but the odour of their business practises hangs heavily in the air. 

I sincerely hope everyone affected by the situation finds a way so salvage something positive from the experience. Except for EA, if this is truly their doing, I hope they foot the bill.