So a recent thread about Rogue Squadron made me think of Factor5 I know since the closure of their American branch they have been virtually dead. Several projects cancelled and they appear to be almost gone. But I decided I should probably look hack into them. Doing a tad of research it appears the company is very much alive.

In fact the company helped Nintendo in developing the 3DS and since its separation with Sony has been really silent. The studio was apparently hired by Lucas Arts in 2009 to make a Wii game but that wasn't the only project, a Nintendo published flight based title was also supposedly entering development for Wii. We also know Kid Icarus was rumored and supposedly cancelled. I looked up articles and while Kid Icarus is listed as cancelled as is Superman (Multiplat) interestingly enough neither Lucas Arts Wii game nor Nintendo's flight similar have been confirmed cancelled.

Now you might think well that was 2009 obviously the games got cancelled or we would have heard about them. We'll Pikmin 3 was announced yeas ago as well and is now a WiiU launch title. Remembering Factor5 is a smaller studio and making two games and working hard with Nintendo on their hardware. A four year life cycle would not be out of the question. We must also remember that Rogue Squadron was made in under a year on prototype hardware and was Nintendo's best selling third party title. Nintendo has stated they want to win the core gamers back. Why wouldn't they hire Factor5 to bring a title for launch of WiiU?

I had thought Star fox WiiU was coming from Retro and they would be great for it. But what if Nintendo brought Factor5 back and put them on StarFox the franchise features all the same gaming elements as Rogue Squadron in fact Assault and RSIII are very similar game play wise. What if the much anticipated StarFox title isn't from Retro or a Nintendo internal studio at all rather from Factor5. Factor5 showed they could launch a PS3 game pretty fast as well. They are a company that could easily make a comeback especially if Nintendo funded them and gave them four years to make their next master piece. If Factor5 could give us RogueSquadron II in under a year what could they do with four? , what's your thoughts will we finally see the return of Nintendo's once best third party supporting studio at Game cubes launch?

I wanted to vote in your poll, but I want to vote several of the options!

I'd love a RS, Starfox, new IP or perhaps another Star Wars title from Factor5!

Factor5 is so confusing they refuse to die. Their American studio shuttered then their German headquarters but just when we thought they were dead Factor V is created and continues Factor5's work. Actually factbis apparently RS4 was deep in development when the American studio went down. But employees complain that the studio sent all the work to another studio prior to shuttering the American studio. It could have been sent to Factor5 in Germany and could now be with Factor V by now it could be complete. If a 25-man team could make RogueSquadron II in less then a year on prototype hardware. Then a five man team should be able to finish it by now.

A new Star Fox would be nice to see. Damn Fox needs to get out of retirement! *Looks at Nintendo..*

Hmmm, good research. You might be on something here :D It would be nice if the WiiU would get a RS, that could potentially be epic, with the tablet controller... sooo many ways to implement it. If they are around and not amking any games, they are at least giving advice about tech development

I knew that the German Factor 5 was still alive, but fact is they haven't done anything since the fall of the old studio, i've considered them effectively moribund.

A Rogue Squadron for WiiU would be cool. The tablet controller could be used as the targeting computer whilst you were flying down the trench of the Death Star.

well written post, interesting,  I didn't know they helped Nintendo with the 3ds

I'd probably say Star Fox or A new IP for Nintendo or maybe Kid Icarus

but Retro Studios could make Star Fox as well

The problem is that we all have seen the movies and listened to Obi Wan telling Luke to shut it off... so we would go without it (because we are Jedis too )

OT: A new game from Factor5 would be a welcome surprise, and if it's with a Rogue Squadron game, even better.

I had a thread on this subject about a year ago, and since there is no new information here I come to the same conclusion I did then:

Factor 5 for all intents and purposes is dead. There is a german website which has the year 2011 mentioned in it, as well as the name of the 3DS (see third paragraph from the bottom). Besides that there is nothing new and last time I checked (a year ago) there was no indication they were actively hiring developers. Almost anybody who had any talent (if not everybody) is now employed elsewhere. For example Julian Eggebrecht and some others have started a new company by the name of touchfactor which makes social games, as sick as that sounds.

The only name I could find that had a direct link with the german website was one that had little to do with the games they actually made back then. It's more than likely this person set up the german website in hopes of getting funds for a new upstart with only the same name, but was unsuccessful since he had no talent to actually back him up.
Furthermore the remains of Factor 5 were involved in lawsuits for unpaid salaries to their employees. These lawsuits were not settled as of last year.

I can dig up my old thread if people insist but the bottom line is that if anything substantial is left of the company besides the website, then they are doing a very good job of remaining hidden from the public eye.