Insurgency: Exiles was a canceled open-world tactical shooter video game developed by New World Interactive. It was intended to be the third installment in the Insurgency series as a sequel (technically indirect prequel) to Insurgency, but was canceled early in development and was replaced by Insurgency: Sandstorm. Information about the game's existence was first revealed in 2019 as part of a series on Insurgency by The Escapist, an online video game magazine.[1]
Gameplay[]
Insurgency: Exiles was planned to feature "more open level design that would see players traveling between focal points on an open map". Drivable vehicles were planned to help maneuver the open world, including a tank. "Different scenarios" were also mentioned as part of the game's features, though it is unclear what this exactly referred to. Otherwise, archival in-development footage of the game somewhat resembled what would eventually become Insurgency: Sandstorm.[1][2][3]
Setting[]
Insurgency: Exiles was set during the Nicaraguan Revolution, fought between the socialist Sandinista National Liberation Front and the communist Marxist–Leninist Popular Action Movement resistance movements, against the Somoza family dictatorship and right-wing Contras, from 1961 to 1990 during the Cold War. It would have been the first definitive setting of an Insurgency game since Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat, which was set in the Iraq War. Players were to be able to select between the Nicaraguan National Guard (replacing Security) and the Sandinista National Liberation Front (replacing Insurgents).[2]
Development[]
Development on Insurgency: Exiles began some time after the release of Insurgency. New World Interactive chose the Nicaraguan Revolution as a setting because it "added 'variety and spice' because of how the setting sat in-between the old and new". To ensure accuracy and authentic representations, New World Interactive staff took a research trip to Nicaragua, with one location in particular being Ometepe, a volcanic island in Nicaragua that was used as an inspiration for a map.[1][2]
Working development builds of Insurgency: Exiles existed at some point, and playtests of the game on the Ometepe map were conducted. However, Insurgency: Exiles was ultimately canceled "probably about a year into the project" due to the ambitious scope of the game, which would have resembled Grand Theft Auto, Far Cry, or Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon more than Insurgency.[1][2]
Legacy[]
Remnants, assets, and planned features from Insurgency: Exiles were eventually reused for Insurgency: Sandstorm, which was released in 2018, such as vehicles (which became the Technical and Security's helicopter Fire Support).[3] The concept of a specific setting was also planned to be reused in the form of the campaign, but that was ultimately canceled.