Six days in Fallujah, a controversial third-person shooter set during the Iraq War, has been back in development more than a decade after being canceled following negative feedback and controversy surrounding the game’s premise.
Originally announced in 2009 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, Six days in Fallujah is a tactical shooter set during the Second Battle of Fallujah. The game’s original developer – a now-defunct studio called Atomic Games – said it partnered with real-life American soldiers to create a more authentic experience.
After the initial announcement, several groups spoke out and criticized the game’s concept. The negative reception eventually led to Konami, the original publisher, announcing that it would no longer be published.
The new developer to create the game is Highwire Games, a company co-founded by three people, Jaime Griesemer and Marty O’Donnell. Griesemer previously worked as a game designer at Bungie and Sucker Punch Productions, where he worked on the Halo and Notorious franchises. O’Donnell also worked at Bungie and is known for co-composing music for several Halo titles and the first Destiny game.
To ensure this is the “most authentic military shooter to date”, Highwire Games announced on the official Six days in Fallujah website that the development team spoke to “more than 100 marines, soldiers and Iraqi civilians who attended the Second Battle of Fallujah,” who shared personal stories, photos and video footage with the developer.
Victura, a company founded by former Bungie vice president Pete Tamte, will serve as the game’s publisher. Tamte was previously CEO of Atomic Games, where he was involved in the original development period for Six days in Fallujah.
Six days in Fallujah Scheduled for PC Launch in 2021; the game will also be out on consoles, but Highwire Games has yet to announce which platforms.