After making a splash on PC, Battalion 1944 looked set to bring the classic FPS-inspired WW2 gameplay to consoles, including PS5 and PS4. However, following the “formal end” of a relationship with publisher Square Enix, it’s been announced that the console versions have now been canceled.
Battalion 1944 PS5 and PS4 versions are no longer in development
In a statement shared to the game’s Twitter account, Bulkhead Interactive announced that it had “formally ended [its] relationship with Square Enix” which has resulted in Battalion 1944 console efforts being canceled.
An announcement about @PlayBattalion pic.twitter.com/pvFQJx8ibz
— BATTALION: Legacy (@PlayBattalion) August 9, 2022
Speaking to console players and those who had backed the game on Kickstarter, the statement continues:
We are deeply disappointed that Battalion 1944 never made it to console and we will be refunding all console Kickstarter backers. Thank you to everyone that backed the console version and we’re sorry it has taken so long to rectify this.
For those with a PC that can play the game, a transformed Battalion: Legacy is set to launch on August 16. This will be free-to-play, which the developer enthusiastically claims will allow a “focus on the players.”
Looking at the game’s Steam page, recent reviews are described as “Mostly Negative.” Many of those negative reviews are themed around wanting the game to go free-to-play and labeling the game as “dead.” Well, free-to-play is exactly the route that it is going down, which should hopefully bring more players into the fight.
For those disappointed by the news of Battalion 1944 no longer coming to consoles, obvious alternatives include Call of Duty: Vanguard and Battlefield 1. However, Hell Let Loose is also worth a shout-out for its intense realistic approach to World War combat.
In other PlayStation news, Disney Plus is finally getting a native PS5 app. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s scrapped campaign surfaces online. Take-Two Interactive has eight remasters, remakes, or ports in progress.
