Looking Back on The Last Guardian’s Nearly 10 Year Development Timeline
Earlier in February of 2007 Team Ico suggested that their new game was in early concept. Then later in May a Sony representative seemingly confirmed that by saying that Team Ico was not only working on one, but two new games. Since then, we’ve only ever heard about The Last Guardian.
Earlier in 2008 Team Ico shared a brief teaser image stating their next game would be making its way to the PS3. Then in August Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida says “Team Ico has something really, really good on the way.” Fumito Ueda follows up in the same month saying the project has a long way to go, and Yoshida also says the game isn’t ready to show yet.
In March of 2009 Ueda comments in an interview that the essence of the new project will be similar to Ico. In May first footage of the game dubbed “Project Trico” leaks online, showing a giant beast and a young boy. Take a look at it <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF3fED8EXl4″ target=”_blank”>here.</a>
At E3 2009 Sony officially unveils The Last Guardian, showing off a longer version of the footage that was leaked before. You can see that version <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCQ-RZrz5rI” target=”_blank”>here.</a> Then a couple months later in September, the games appears at Tokyo Game Show with a <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fAHqFrH79Y” target=”_blank”>sneak peek trailer.</a>
In February of 2010 Ueda says that we’ll get more info on The Last Guardian before long. Despite this, the game misses E3 2010 having no mention or appearance.
The Last Guardian appears with a short trailer at TGS 2010, and Ueda shares new details on the game. The trailer also makes the first announcement of a release window, holiday 2011. You can watch it <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_UlWT2rDs” target=”_blank”>here.</a>
March 2011 Ueda announces that he’s considering including a demo of The Last Guardian with the ICO/Shadow of the Colossus HD collection. Nearly a month later, Ueda and Sony officially delay the game out of holiday 2011 to an unspecified time.
After receiving its delay, The Last Guardian fails to make any kind of an appearance at both E3 and TGS. The ICO/Shadow of the Colossus collection releases in September, and does not feature a demo of the new game. The collection was primarily developed by Bluepoint Games, along with a few members of Team Ico.
In November rumors begin surfacing that Ueda has officially left Sony, but has stayed on with The Last Guardian as a freelancer. When December rolls around those rumors turn out to be exactly true, and Ueda is still the director and executive producer of the project as a freelancer.
As February rolls around both Ueda and Yoshida comment on The Last Guardian. Ueda confirms the project is still in development, while Yoshida says the team is making slow progress stating “it’s still a really important project.” Later in the month Sony announces that Sony Santa Monica will be assisting with the game.
Once again The Last Guardian fails to appear at both E3 and TGS. Yoshida says “technical difficulties” are the reason it doesn’t appear at E3. In August of 2012, Sony re-registers the game’s trademark. Still no word on a potential release date.
In February of 2013 Ueda reiterates once again that the game is still in development and Yoshida states “We’re waiting for the right time to re-introduce TLG.” Around this time rumors start springing up that the game has switched development from PS3 to PS4, and has had to be restarted multiple times.
On December 6 The Last Guardian will finally release, after a long long wait. At the PlayStation Experience, Sony releases on final <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cDuKShhQOA&t=19s” target=”_blank”>launch trailer </a> for the game.
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May 2007 - Team Ico Is Working on a New Game
Earlier in February of 2007 Team Ico suggested that their new game was in early concept. Then later in May a Sony representative seemingly confirmed that by saying that Team Ico was not only working on one, but two new games. Since then, we've only ever heard about The Last Guardian.
August 2008 - Sony and Team ICO Tease New Project
Earlier in 2008 Team Ico shared a brief teaser image stating their next game would be making its way to the PS3. Then in August, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida says "Team Ico has something really, really good on the way." Fumito Ueda followed up in the same month saying the project has a long way to go, and Yoshida also says the game isn't ready to show yet.
March-May 2009 - Footage of the New Project Leaks Online
In March of 2009 Ueda comments in an interview that the essence of the new project will be similar to Ico. In May, first footage of the game dubbed "Project Trico" leaks online, showing a giant beast and a young boy. Take a look at it here.
June-September 2009 - First Official Footage of Project Trico
At E3 2009, Sony officially unveils The Last Guardian, showing off a longer version of the footage that was leaked before. You can see that version here. Then a couple of months later in September, the games appears at Tokyo Game Show with a sneak peek trailer.
June 2010- The Last Guardian Misses E3
In February of 2010 Ueda says that we'll get more info on The Last Guardian before long. Despite this, the game misses E3 2010 having no mention or appearance.
September 2010 - The Last Guardian Shows Up at TGS, Release Date Announced
The Last Guardian appears with a short trailer at TGS 2010, and Ueda shares new details on the game. The trailer also makes the first announcement of a release window, holiday 2011. You can watch it here.
April 2011- Ueda Officially Delays The Last Guardian
In March 2011 Ueda announces that he's considering including a demo of The Last Guardian with the ICO/Shadow of the Colossus HD collection. Nearly a month later, Ueda and Sony officially delay the game out of holiday 2011 to an unspecified time.
June-Sep. 2011 - The Last Guardian Misses E3 and TGS
After receiving its delay, The Last Guardian fails to make any kind of an appearance at both E3 and TGS. The ICO/Shadow of the Colossus collection releases in September, and does not feature a demo of the new game. The collection was primarily developed by Bluepoint Games, along with a few members of Team Ico.
Nov. - Dec. 2011 - Fumito Ueda Leaves Sony
In November rumors begin surfacing that Ueda has officially left Sony, but has stayed on with The Last Guardian as a freelancer. When December rolls around those rumors turn out to be true, and Ueda is still the director and executive producer of the project as a freelancer.
February 2012 - Ueda Confirms the Game Is Still In Development
As February rolls around both Ueda and Yoshida comment on The Last Guardian. Ueda confirms the project is still in development, while Yoshida says the team is making slow progress stating "it's still a really important project." Later in the month Sony announces that Sony Santa Monica will be assisting with the game.
June - Nov, 2012 - The Game Misses E3 and TGS, Trademark Re-registered
Once again The Last Guardian fails to appear at both E3 and TGS. Yoshida says "technical difficulties" are the reason it doesn't appear at E3. In August of 2012, Sony re-registers the game's trademark. Still no word on a potential release date.
February 2013 - Rumors of the Game Switching to PS4
In February of 2013 Ueda reiterates once again that the game is still in development and Yoshida states "We're waiting for the right time to re-introduce TLG." Around this time rumors start springing up that the game has switched development from PS3 to PS4, and has had to be restarted multiple times.
June - Nov. 2013 - The Last Guardian Misses E3 and TGS
Another year, another missed E3 and TGS for The Last Guardian. After Jack Tretton of Sony says that the game is on hiatus, Yoshida quickly states that The Last Guardian is "in active development." At TGS he also says a smaller team is re-engineering the game.
November 2013 - Fumito Ueda Apologizes
In an interview with Edge Ueda apologizes on how long it's taken The Last Guardian. He states "my creative work was mostly finished a long time ago," however, "the details of when, where, and how it will be completed are beyond my control."
March 2014 - Sony's Scott Rohde Comments on The Last Guardian
In an interview with IGN, PlayStation Software Development Head Scott Rohde talked about The Last Guardian. He loves that people are still interested in the game but states, "We're not not going to announce what platform it’s coming on, who’s working on it, who’s involved. But that is still a title that’s absolutely in the mix at Worldwide Studios."
June 2014 - IGN Reports the Game May Be Cancelled, Sony Denies
Just before E3 2014, IGN reports that a Sony Russia executive may have word of The Last Guardian's cancellation. Shuhei Yoshida and Scott Rohde tweet denying it, saying "TLG has NOT been cancelled."
June 2014 - The Last Guardian Misses E3
Despite Sony denying its cancellation, the game doesn't appear at E3 once again. Yoshida and Shawn Layden of Sony both say they will talk more about the title in the future. Yoshida states, ""It exists. The team is working hard on it. When we cancel a title and it is something we have announced already, we'll say so."
February 2015 - The Last Guardian Trademark Is Re-registered Again
The Last Guardian's trademark gets reissued once again, marking the fourth time now.
June 2015 - The Last Guardian Officially Gets Revealed Again
At their E3 2015 conference, Sony opens the doors and officially re-reveals The Last Guardian for PlayStation 4.. A lengthy six minute gameplay trailer is shown, with a released date of 2016. Even more details are shared at the show. This was also the same conference that revealed Shenmue 3 and the Final Fantasy VII Remake.
June 2015 - Ueda Discusses the Game
At E3 2015, Ueda says that his vision and the fundamentals of The Last Guardian's gameplay have not changed. The upgrade from PS3 to PS4 merely allowed the team to put more detail into the characters and world.
June 2016 - The Last Guardian Gets an Official Release Date
The Last Guardian makes it to E3 in 2016, with a new trailernew trailer and the announcement of a release date. The game is scheduled to release on October 25, 2016 exclusively for the PlayStation 4. Sony also announces a Collector's Edition that comes with a statue of Trico.
September 2016 - The Last Guardian Gets Delayed One Last Time
Sony pushes back The Last Guardian's release date one more time, but only by a couple months this time. The game is now scheduled to release on December 6, 2016. At TGS, Yoshida also states they have not shown much footage of the game because it is story heavy and they don't want to show much.
December 2016 - The Last Guardian Launches
On December 6 The Last Guardian will finally release, after a long long wait. At the PlayStation Experience, Sony releases on final launch trailer for the game.
About the author
Hayes Madsen
A connoisseur of all things RPG related, and always looking for the artistic expression in gaming. His love of Gundam is only matched by his love of Pizza. Playing Games Since: 1991 Favorite Genres: RPGs, JRPGs, Strategy,
