Unknown 9: Awakening Developer Admits Failure

Reflector Entertainment has admitted that Unknown 9: Awakening has underperformed. The disappointing sales and player feedback since the game’s 2024 release have led the studio to make a difficult decision. This has not only led to the failure of the studio’s first project, but also the cancellation of an unannounced project and layoffs.

Unknown 9: Awakening and Its Underperforming Performance

Released on October 17, 2024, Unknown 9: Awakening was released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game, centered on the story of Haroona, a young Indian woman discovering her powers, aimed to create a broad “story universe.” However, the game received mixed reviews from critics and failed to meet the studio’s expectations commercially. Reflector noted that even the investment in the game’s development and changes to the timeline couldn’t fix this situation.

Reflector Entertainment has laid off some employees after the failure, restructuring. The studio announced that it will provide adequate severance pay, healthcare, and career planning support to the affected employees. Company CEO Herve Hoerdt stated that the layoffs were necessary for the studio to adopt a “single project approach.” He also stated that some of the laid-off employees may be transferred to another unannounced project.

Reflector’s parent company Bandai Namco announced that it will continue to invest in projects aimed at the Western market. However, the failure of Unknown 9: Awakening has once again highlighted the risks of such projects. The studio had previously cut 18% of its workforce in 2023.

This difficult period for Reflector Entertainment shows the difficulties of creating new IPs in the gaming world. Although Unknown 9: Awakening set out with the aim of creating a large story universe, it did not receive the expected attention from fans and critics.

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