Square Enix acquires True Crime: Hong Kong rights

Square Enix has chosen to revive and pick up the publishing rights to open-world thriller True Crime: Hong Kong following Activision’s decision to cease development of the project earlier this year.

However, the publisher has not bought the rights to the brand IP, so name must be changed before it hits retail.

The resurrected title still has no release date, as reported by Gamastura. The project is still in hands of Vancouver-based United Front Games, and in supervision of Square Enix London Studios – the same division that handled Just Cause 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum.

“When we first saw and got our hands on the game we fell in love with it,” said Square Enix London Studios general manager Lee Singleton.

“When we met the team at United Front Games, it was a done deal in our eyes — we instantly recognized the huge potential in the game and the team. UFG is an incredibly talented team, who have individually worked on some of the biggest games in our industry, and this talent shines through from the moment you walk in the door.”

Originally announced in December 2008 at the Spike Video Game Awards, True Crime: Hong Kong was struck by the hammer of death from Activision this February, when the publishing giant announced it had pulled the plug on the title, saying it has to “focus on the greatest opportunities that the company currently has to create the world’s best interactive entertainment experiences.”