Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands was one of those surprise hits that seemed to take the gaming world by storm, with publisher Take-Two even praising the game for “exceeding expectations.” Gearbox was quick to jump on the hype train, claiming the game had “shattered targets” and was “clearly a new franchise.” But as things often go in the chaotic world of game development, a new report is throwing a curveball into the mix, claiming that the highly anticipated Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2 has been canceled.
This juicy tidbit comes from MP1ST, citing an anonymous source with insider knowledge. According to this mysterious figure, the sequel was axed “in recent months.” Ouch.
The timing of this news is especially telling. Lost Boys Interactive, the studio responsible for the game, has been hit with major layoffs this year—139 people were let go just this September. While we don’t know how many were affected earlier in the year, it’s clear that the studio’s troubled year could have played a major role in the decision. And here’s the kicker: Lost Boys isn’t even part of the deal when Gearbox was sold back to Take-Two earlier this year. They remain with Embracer, which has been in a constant battle to keep itself afloat. It’s not looking good for a sequel at the moment.
Things weren’t always this grim, though. Back in February, Kotaku reported that a sequel to Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands was going strong with a “soft reboot,” and that it was “promising and progressing very well.” But fast forward to now, and it’s clear the winds have shifted.
On the bright side, Gearbox still holds the rights to Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, meaning that even though Lost Boys might not be involved, there’s still a chance a sequel could be made—just not anytime soon. With Borderlands 4 now on Gearbox’s radar, a follow-up to Wonderlands would likely be a long way off.
Personally, I’m bummed. I really enjoyed Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands—I even ranked it as the third best game in the Borderlands franchise. So, it’s a bit of a heartbreak to think we might not get that long-awaited sequel. But, if I’m being honest, I don’t think Wonderlands necessarily needs a follow-up. What stings more is thinking about what the folks at Lost Boys Interactive have been through. From launching a game that exceeded expectations to being bought by Gearbox, only to be left behind when the studio was sold off again, they’ve been on quite the rollercoaster. And now, if this cancellation is true, it looks like they’ve just hit another low.
It’s a wild industry we’re in, and it seems like this rollercoaster is far from over.
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