Fumito Ueda leaves Sony (Confirmed)

[Family Fry]

Now it's a Eurogamer rumour but here it be...

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-30-the-last-guardian-creator-fumito-ueda-leaves-sony-rumour

"Japanese video game development sources indicated the 41-year-old is working on finishing oft-delayed PlayStation 3 exclusive The Last Guardian in a freelance capacity."

Was surprised it missed Tokyo Games Show this year, wasn't a good sign.
All being well though the game is SO far into development that it only needs polishing off and can be released 2012.....

[MrMarbles]

This makes me feel sad

[sj33]

Possibly the worst news since Team Andromeda closing

EDIT - Err, gaming news I mean, of course.

[Family Fry]

Looks like this could be true and no one cares? Now the executive producer has left.

"Sony has employed a company-wide gagging order on publicly discussing Ueda’s employment situation."

http://www.develop-online.net/news/39293/Last-Guardian-executive-producer-resigns

[SuperBeatBoy]

Hes left for a facebook game developer. *picard facepalm*

[Guts]

Hes left for a facebook game developer. *picard facepalm*

Originality and creativity in video games down a bit more again.

[Zaki]

Does anyone else have the feeling that The Last Guardian will be canceled soon?

[SuperBeatBoy]

I think Sony have already put too much money into it to have it cancelled.

[fuse]

This does all sound rather bollocks, doesn't it? Regardless of Ueda's employment status, putting a gagging order out makes the situation sound disasterous.

[Flabio]

Any project that goes on for a long time can eventually lead to people leaving. No project can just be allowed to muddle along by itself with no clear idea of an end date forever. The money to pay for it has to be coming from somewhere after all.

Maybe it's that old classic 'creative differences'. Ie, someone's thrown down the hurry-up or it gets binned ultimatum, and people are leaving in a huff.

I'm reminded of what happened with the developers working on Xenosaga, for example.

[Family Fry]

I genuinely think Sony have let Ueda go, sacked and gone, walk out thereafter maybe support for the decision that's been made.
6-7 years in the making with nothing substantial demo'd, it screams disaster area.
There's only so much time someone can give a perfectionist and ps3's time is nearing an end.
Naughty Dog have pushed out 3 Uncharted games in same timeframe, I know Team Ico is small in comparison but its beyond a joke.

[Junko]

Lets just hope that the last guardian will still surface

[EvilBoris]

I think Sony have already put too much money into it to have it cancelled.

It's not going to make much money back, I can't see it being cancelled, it'll make for a nice advert for PS3.

[killy]

Shocking and sad news to hear that some of the people behind two of the most creative and engrossing games are now gone so we will most likely never get an experience like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus again.

The Last Guardian has been my most anticipated game since its announcement so news like this is really depressing.

[darkangel]

Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news but... [QUOTE Team ICO's head Fumito Ueda has officially joined the London based social game maker Bossa Studios as creative director. His first project will be a 3D social game. It is uncertain whether Ueda will continue helping the development The Last Guardian [Hitokui no Owashi Trico] as an independent producer.] /QUOTE] - Taken from themagicbox.com