Explaining Ghostrunner 2's Absence At The 505 Showcase

gamerant.com:

Co-developed by Slipgate Ironworks and One More Level, the first Ghostrunner game was a critical success. Its combination of hardcore FPP slasher elements, platforming, and fast-paced action made Ghostrunner a hit with both critics and gamers. The 2020 title was seen as a breath of fresh air in the platforming genre, featuring incredibly slick movements and precise combat as well as beautifully realized environments. Ghostrunners' immersive cyberpunk-meets-post-apocalyptic world was also praised, offering a new take on the familiar sci-fi setting. Due to the game's warm reception, it was no surprise that less than a year after its release, Ghostrunner 2 was announced.

505 Games assumed full publishing rights for the IP after Ghostrunner's release and announced last year that Ghostrunner 2 was in development, as assuring fans that current-gen console versions of the first game would be available by the end of 2021. Beyond that, the upcoming Ghostrunner 2 has remained mostly a mystery, and many players were hoping to hear more about it during 505 Games' recent showcase. However, Ghostrunner 2 was conspicuously missing, though it wasn't the only game to be missing from the stream.

5 Things We Loved About Ghostrunner (& 5 Things We Didn't)

In May of last year, 505 Games announced its continued collaboration with developer One More Level to bring Ghostrunner 2 to life. Citing the game's success and positive reception, 505 Games revealed its plans for a potentially expanded IP, confident that Ghostrunner was «capable of contributing for a long time to the 505 Games product portfolio.» This was good news for fans who were keen to jump back into the cutthroat world of Jack and the crumbling arcology of Dharma Tower​​​​​.

Beyond this