Wed. Sep 10th, 2025

Titan Quest 2 Demo Rejected Two Decades Ago for Peculiar Reasons

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.

By Bramwell Nightingale

A Toronto-based gaming journalist with over eight years of experience covering the North American gaming industry. Started his career writing for independent gaming blogs before establishing himself as a reliable source for breaking gaming news. Specializes in AAA game releases and studio acquisitions across Canada and the US. His investigative approach to gaming industry developments has earned him respect among developers and publishers alike

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