Alpha Protocol was given to mixed reviews upon its release, some praising the impact that player choices could have on the story, others criticizing the numerous bugs, flawed shooting elements and suspect AI. While the concept of a spy RPG is certainly an intriguing one, it will not be something that Sega will revisit.
“Let’s speak very commercially; the game hasn’t sold what we’ve expected, therefore we won’t be doing a sequel,” said Sega West president Mike Hayes. “The concept was brilliant, though. You know this whole thing with Metacritic where you have to be in the high 70s to mid-80s minimum [to have any success] – well, with RPGs you have got to be in the late 80s.
The development time of Alpha Protocol topping off at nearly four years and a release after the acclaimed and much more polished Mass Effect 2 likely doomed the Obsidian game.
“Whilst we had a good game, I don’t think we had a game that had enough to get us to that upper echelon and I think that was the issue, added Hayes. Again, the amount you need to invest to get there is so large because RPGs are naturally big projects. We’ve decided we won’t do a sequel.”
Source: CVG
