Rockstar Games Killed Midnight Club 5 Because It Wasn't as Big as GTA, Ex-Designer Claims

Ex-Rockstar Games designer Kris Roberts claims that the studio eliminated the Midnight Club franchise because it failed to match the popularity of Grand Theft Auto. In an interview with Insider Gaming, Roberts discussed the fate of the franchise, which had been under development by Rockstar San Diego, the studio responsible for Rockstar's arcade racing series and the first Red Dead Redemption.

Despite the team's efforts, including prototyping locations such as London for the fifth Midnight Club game, the project was terminated during its development phase. Roberts attributed the cancellation to a "non-trivial conflict" between Rockstar San Diego and Rockstar New York, where the racing series was often perceived as "not as big as GTA."

He explained that the studio's perception was that they never received the recognition or accolades they deserved, as GTA was consistently seen as superior. While Roberts acknowledged the challenges and frustrations over missed deadlines on previous Midnight Club games, he emphasized that the racing series still managed to engage players more than competitors like Need for Speed and Burnout.

However, the cancellation signaled to many that the franchise was unlikely to return, leading the remaining staff to move on to other projects such as Red Dead Redemption. Fans have long criticized Rockstar for not diversifying its portfolio since the release of Grand Theft Auto 5, with Midnight Club being a notable absence. Some fear that Rockstar's future may consist solely of GTA and Red Dead games for the next decade and a half, with no more unique, smaller-scale titles like Bully, LA Noire, or Midnight Club.

Rockstar's upcoming projects include the Max Payne remakes, developed by Remedy, but the timeline for these remains uncertain. As for whether Rockstar will revisit any dormant franchises or embark on new endeavors after GTA 6, it remains to be seen.