Citing unnamed sources, GamesIndustry.biz says the Final Fantasy spinoff codenamed "Fortress" has not died along with original developer GRIN. When the Stockholm studio closed, Fortress had already been taken back by Square Enix.
GRIN shut down last month, after a lackluster year that saw Terminator: Salvation, Bionic Commando and Wanted: Weapons of Fate all fail to impress. Apparently the same went for the studio's handling of Square's much beloved franchise. GamesIndustry says Square reclaimed the project after six months of work, citing quality concerns.
A lack of solid projects in the pipeline, coupled with Swedish law that severely restricts a business going into debt, forced GRIN's closure.
Last week we published some pictures taken in GRIN's office during a public sell-off of its office furniture and other items. Four of them showed concepts tied to "Fortress," possibly revealing certain details about its prototype story. The fifth was believed to be of a sequel to Bionic Commando: Rearmed, which won GRIN praise in 2008, but was a download-only title.
Square Enix, through a North American spokesperson, declined comment on the report when contacted by Kotaku.
GRIN's Final Fantasy Spin-Off Still In Development [GamesIndustry.biz]