The conversation around Days Gone 2 has evolved rapidly this week, with a report breaking that Sony's Bend Studio pitched Days Gone 2, though the pitch was ultimately rejected because of the first game's long development cycle and lackluster review scores. Of course, much like PlayStation's other exclusive games, Days Gone has earned a significant fan base, and those fans are now petitioning for the series to return.
Right now, a Change.org petition is gaining steam, garnering nearly 25,000 signatures since it went live. The petition is asking Sony to approve Days Gone 2, guaranteeing a sequel to the first game. Started by Kanhai Raval, the petition's description states that there are "millions of people" who would want Days Gone 2 to come to fruition. It goes on to say that "[Sony] can’t just pull the plug on such [an] amazing game that ended with a cliffhanger."
The petition caught the attention of Jeff Ross, Days Gone's game director. In a tweet, Ross expressed amazement that the petition is on track to become one of the top petitions on Change.org. He went on to ask fans of the game to sign the petition, hoping to push it over the 25,000 signature mark. The Days Gone development team has been mostly quiet on the situation, this being an exception.
Even with the Change.org petition gaining steam, it isn't clear if it will matter all that much where Sony is concerned. While it is admirable to see so many fans put their support behind the game, greenlighting a multi-million dollar project based on a fan petition seems unlikely. Internet movements have worked in the past, though, with the recent release of the Snyder Cut being a prime example of what fans can get made.
According to the Bloomberg report that broke the Days Gone 2 news, Sony is in the middle of a something of a culture shift. Rather than allow the creation of experimental titles, Sony has a newfound emphasis on creating blockbuster hits, many stemming from its existing franchises. For instance, the report detailed that a Last of Us remake is currently in the works, which has been met with a mixed reception from fans.
If Days Gone 2 does come to fruition, it will likely be some time before fans get to see it. The team is reportedly working on a new game in an unannounced franchise. Work on that could be scrapped to make room for Days Gone 2, but it's hard to say. If fans really want to see the sequel get made, though, the petition is a good way to start.
Days Gone 2 was reportedly pitched but shot down by Sony.
Source: Bloomberg