A promising fan-made Bionicle action game, eight years in development, was shut down by Lego last year. Now, the team behind the project, formerly known as Team Kanohi, has rebranded as Unmasked Games and is developing a new title, Rustbound, which shares a spiritual successor connection while being entirely original.
The original project, Bionicle: Masks of Power, was a third-person action game that sought to operate within Lego's fan-made media guidelines. However, the company's stance on such projects evolved, leading to its cancellation after nearly a decade of work. A postmortem demo showcased the extensive development that had gone into the game.
Unmasked Games aims to preserve the core elements of their previous work within the new project. The studio's website describes Rustbound as a third-person action-adventure game set in an original world. This legal separation from the Bionicle IP is a significant undertaking, requiring substantial adjustments to retain the foundation of their eight years of development.
The cinematic teaser trailer for Rustbound offers a glimpse into the game's aesthetic. Developers noted that the current visual direction is compelling, retaining the Bionicle series' blend of mysticism and technology. The protagonist's design in Rustbound also draws parallels to characters from the Bionicle films, albeit in a legally distinct manner. This new direction offers an exciting prospect for the future of the team's creative vision, allowing them to explore new possibilities beyond their original fan project.