Sadly fans of the Sci-fi epic Blade Runner will be disappointed to know that Gearbox Studios' journey to develop the Ridley Scott classic into game format is now over. Brave software company Gearbox are no strangers when it comes to movie-to game conversions having picked up the rights to blockbuster films in the past such as the already abandoned action classic HEAT starring Al Pacino and Robert Deniro and the endlessly delayed Aliens: Colonial Marines that has also had development problems.

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The biggest reason reported for the end of production was the financial burden of doing the title justice with costs soaring over $40 million for launch and Gearbox’s concerns were development could potentially bankrupt the company with projected sales figures only recouping half of the original outlay.

In an interview with Official Playstation Magazine Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford stated that Blade Runner was among a number of IPs that his studios had acquired the rights to. He went on to note that although they had consulted with Ridley Scott on the direction of development of the Sci-Fi classic, itself based on Phillip K Dick's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?', he stated "If we had made Blade Runner with a business model that did work, it would have not have been the game that we would have all wanted".

I’m slightly gutted that this project wont be hitting the shelves and the fact that I wont be part of that world, even if only connected by a game pad, is disappointing. The truth is that Gearbox have realized for many reasons that this classic memory should not be tarnished by an another average movie to game conversion and fans of Blade Runner must applaud that.

As far as the future goes for Gearbox Studios and its film to game adaptations with HEAT and Blade Runner already abandoned the spot light falls on the highly anticipated Aliens: Colonial Marines and the title is being prepped for an early 2012 release on the XBOX360 and PLAYSTATION 3 with a possible release for the title on the Nintendo’s upcoming new console the WiiU.

Disappointing as it may be this is Zonalcrew keeping you informed, keeping it real yo, only on Sidekick.