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&amp;t=19s” target=”_blank”>launch trailer </a> for the game.