Sunset Overdrive 2 Just Needs A Publisher, Says Insomniac

Insomnia Games confirmed its interest in developing a sequel to Sunset Overdrive this week, but says it needs a publisher to make SO2 a reality. It’s not exactly a guarantee that we’ll ever see a sequel. But the public response to the studio’s interest might just be enough to get Microsoft (or another publisher) to add Sunset Overdrive 2 to their portfolio.

The game saw mostly positive reviews when it debuted in 2014 and even got a narrative expansion before post-launch support dried up. But we haven’t heard much about the series, which seemed poised to be one of the first great Xbox franchises of this console generation, in the years since. Until now. The studio confirmed its desire to develop a sequel, tentatively called Sunset Overdrive 2, in response to fan inquiry on Twitter. The only problem is that there aren’t any companies who want to step up and bankroll the project.

If Microsoft really isn’t interested in publishing Sunset Overdrive 2, it’s possible that hesitance is also preventing other companies from stepping up and footing the bill. But we’d love to know what impact early confusion about the Xbox One, like the DRM plans quickly scrapped after E3 2014, had on the game’s sales. It’s not hard to imagine Sunset Overdrive being more successful had it not needed to overcome all of the Xbox’s negative PR. Wider availability -- Sunset Overdrive never even made it to PC -- probably wouldn’t have hurt either. But it sounds like the only way we’ll ever know for sure is if an Ubisoft, EA or Activision steps up to the plate. It also seems like an obvious pickup for Sony or Nintendo, particular given the latter’s focus on letting people game on the go. Movement was a big part of Sunset Overdrive’s draw, especially if you enjoyed the iconic Jet Set Radio, and the game’s whole aesthetic seems perfect for the Switch.

If you somehow missed out on the Sunset Overdrive hype train when the game debuted alongside the Xbox One, check out launch trailer embedded below. Alternately, if you’re a fan of the first game, head down to the comments and let us know if you’d play a Sunset Overdrive sequel.

Sunset Overdrive is currently available on Xbox One.