The recently launched early access version of Titan Quest 2 on PC has already achieved impressive sales, moving 300,000 copies in its initial three days. This success brings to light a fascinating revelation from Richard Browne, former THQ vice president of studio operations, regarding the sequel`s past. Browne shared insights into why an earlier iteration of Titan Quest 2 never saw the light of day nearly twenty years ago.
Writing on a professional networking platform, Browne recounted that THQ had indeed greenlit a sequel back in 2006. However, the development team at Iron Lore Entertainment encountered an unexpected hurdle: the company`s own marketing department. Despite the original Titan Quest being a consistent seller, the marketing division dismissed the proof-of-concept demo.
Browne expressed his bewilderment, stating that the first game was a continuous success, yet “our marketing department didn`t see it.” He detailed how a sophisticated 360-degree demo, featuring a lower, controlled camera perspective, was created over three months. This demo was ultimately “nixed” based on feedback from “Emsense” technology, which purportedly showed it “didn`t resonate” with players.
Emsense was a proprietary system that employed sensors to monitor physiological responses such as heart rate and breath rate, aiming to gauge a player`s genuine reaction to a product. The perceived lack of a favorable response via this technology served as a primary justification for cancelling the project at the time.
Adding another layer to the rejection, Browne disclosed that the marketing team was hesitant to collaborate with the game`s lead designer, Brian Sullivan. Their reasoning? They considered him “not being PR friendly.”
Browne affectionately defended Sullivan, recalling him as simply “a khaki shorts, black socks, and loafers kinda [guy],” suggesting that his unpretentious style made the marketing team`s job feel challenging. This perception seemingly contributed to the demo`s demise.
Eventually, the torch for Titan Quest 2 was passed to Grimlore Games, under the publishing arm of THQ Nordic. While currently in early access exclusively for PC, the full release is slated to include PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S platforms.