A game that was canceled more than ten years ago is making a comeback. Six Days in Fallujah will focus on real events during the 2004 Iraq war. The realistic shooter was announced to have a new 2021 release date after controversy cancelled the game back in 2009. Now, it’ll be helmed by the teams who created the original Halo and Destiny series.
According to a press release, the game will be developed by new developer and publisher Victura and Highwire Games (staffed by ex-Bungie developers). Victura is a product of Peter Tamte, a former CEO of Atomic Games — the original developer of Six Days in Fallujah. The shooter was dropped by its original publisher in 2009 after “controversy about the ability of video games to cover challenging real-world events.” Now, in an interview with Polygon, Tamte explains that Six Days in Fallujah “will not grapple with the political machinations that led to the titular conflict. Instead, their first-person shooter will try to engender empathy for American troops in the field, for their work destroying the insurgents that dug in throughout Fallujah, and for the civilians trapped in between.” Also, adding Highwire Games won’t be highlighting atrocities that allegedly occurred there.
The game will focus on the Second Battle of Fallujah where 100 Americans and upwards of 1,000 Iraqui citizens were killed. Developers spoke to soldiers and civilians that were present for the battle. Six Days in Fallujah hopes to create “the most authentic military shooter to date.” The game will include personal stories, photos, video recordings and real documentary interview footage. Each mission will be narrated by a real person present during the 2004 battle and players will experience the moment as if they were them. Six Days in Fallujah will launch on PC and consoles in 2021.