id Software used the long-in-development as a gorgeous tech demo of the id Tech 5 game engine, the same engine that would go on to be used for the development of Doom 4. Unfortunately for publisher Bethesda, Rage didn't sell very well despite its generally positive reviews and the game's DLC, along with any hopes of a sequel, were squashed.

Instead, id Software was to focus on the flaghship title Doom 4, yet another long-in-development project that at least once during its years of creation had to be overhauled. Now, id Software won't even discuss the game, while Rage's future seems to have a glimmer of hope.

Creative director Tim Willits, whose last game was Rage, tells Polygon that a return to that universe isn't out of the question.

"Well, I hope someday. The franchise is not dead, and we built the game in such a way where – we made a rich enough universe where it would be quite easy to step back into that world and make something cool. So, yeah, that's be great, someday."

What game is Willits currently working on? A new Rage is highly unlikely even if Willits says the franchise lives, especially given the developer's game development output over the last decade. The bigger and more anticipated sequel from id Software however, remains Doom 4. Some fans were letdown that no news about the highly anticipated game premiered at Bethesda's QuakeCon event over the weekend, and in the Q&A session after, id's John Carmack couldn't talk much on the subject:

"I can't. I actually asked about whether I could say anything related to the development, and the answer was, no, I couldn't."

Last year it was reported that Doom 4 was soon becoming the core priority for id Software as Rage 2 was being canned. Later, we learned the new Doom would support the Oculus Rift VR headset from the get-go. This spring however, we learned that Doom 4 - after going through an overhaul - is back on track but nowhere close to completion.

Let me know on Twitter @rob_keyes if you want Rage 2 or Doom 4 more!

Sources: Polygon