Remedy Entertainment has posted an update in regards to their collaboration project with corporate powerhouse Tencent. Dubbed Project Vanguard, the title is now being rebooted and changed from a free-to-play aspect to a fully-fledged premium multiplayer title. Remedy states that this is a new premium offering “with a strong cooperative multiplayer component.” The reboot also has a new codename, “Kestrel”.

Remedy and Tencent reboot Project “Vanguard” from a F2P Multiplayer game into a premium Co-Op multiplayer game. New Codename is “Kestrel”. “Kestrel” returns to concept phase.https://t.co/XRudb5pZeV pic.twitter.com/MeC2QKtYEz

— Knoebel (@Knoebelbroet) November 13, 2023

Remedy states that the decision to make this vast change was made during the project reaching the “end of its proof-of-concept phase.” Remedy and Tencent reevaluated the project’s status and determined what next steps to take. Eventually, both agreed to have the project return to the concept phase while splitting up the initial Vanguard team. Some will be put into other ongoing projects that Remedy is working on, while the “core leadership and select members of the development team of Kestrel” will remain on the project’s development team.

Tero Virtala, the CEO of Remedy Entertainment, added that this new direction for the title is more in line with Remedy’s style and how they develop titles while also praising Tencent’s continued support. “We are creating another distinct Remedy game with Tencent’s continued support in making a great cooperative multiplayer experience.” This partnership between the two was established back in December 2021 and included the aforementioned Vanguard as well as giving Tencent worldwide rights to publish the mobile version of the title, whenever it launches. The deal also includes a console and PC version, both of which will be developed primarily by Remedy themselves. This will also be the very first live service game for the studio, as they’ve always been a single-player/story-driven developer, which is emphasized by the critical acclaim of the recently released Alan Wake II.