Crytek's Roman Epic Almost Spawned a Multi-Era Historical Franchise Rivaling God of War

When Ryse: Son of Rome launched alongside the Xbox One in November 2013, it was celebrated for its jaw-dropping visual fidelity and cinematic presentation — and quietly criticized for its repetitive combat and a campaign that could be finished in under six hours. What most players never knew was that the game's creative team had already been sketching out something far more expansive: a multi-entry historical action franchise that could have rivaled Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed in both scope and ambition.

According to former Crytek employees speaking to IGN, while the original game was still in its final stretch of development, a small group of concept artists, a historical researcher, and key leadership figures assembled to map out where the franchise could go next. Leading that effort was Patrick Hanenberger, a production designer who had come from DreamWorks and was originally brought aboard to give Ryse its trademark 'playable movie' aesthetic. Also involved was Todd Papy, fresh from directing God of War: Ascension at Sony's Santa Monica Studio, who joined Crytek in late 2013 with his knowledge of ancient-world game design ready to be applied to Roman history.

The team's ambitions extended well beyond Rome. Art director Peter Gornstein was eager to explore a Viking game, envisioning raids along European coastlines, adventures in Newfoundland, and even appearances in Constantinople — this at a time when the History Channel's Vikings was still in its debut season and Assassin's Creed Valhalla was nearly a decade from release. Feudal Japan was another serious contender, with Hanenberger drawn to events like the Mongol invasions under Kublai Khan, the Sengoku civil wars, and the arrival of European merchants. The Ottoman Empire, conquerors of Byzantium in 1453, was also discussed. Thematically, Hanenberger proposed connecting each installment around the question of how and why empires rise and fall, with narrative threads linking games together like falling dominoes.

Gameplay would have evolved significantly from the original. The team openly acknowledged Ryse's weaknesses — its linear corridor levels and limited combat depth — and wanted sequels to adopt something closer to the semi-open structure of 2018's God of War. Cut mechanics from the original, including vehicle navigation and a PVP multiplayer mode, were slated for resurrection. Developers also imagined more dynamic battlefield systems, including the ability to fluidly enter and exit Roman testudo formations mid-combat, and encounters built around real historical tactics like the Parthian shot and Japanese Kakuyoku formations.

Despite a reportedly enthusiastic reception from Microsoft — who allegedly called the franchise pitch 'the most cohesive and well-thought IP plan they had ever seen' — the series never moved forward. After the original game underperformed commercially and critically, Microsoft lost appetite for continued investment, but Crytek refused to sell the intellectual property. With neither side willing to compromise on ownership, the partnership dissolved. The Ryse sequels were never formally cancelled — they simply ceased to exist, a promising franchise quietly smothered by a corporate stalemate.