Canceled SSX Successor ‘Project Gravity’: What Went Wrong at SuperNatural Studio

In the wake of significant layoffs impacting the video game industry, recent reports have shed light on the abrupt cancellation of a highly anticipated project: a spiritual successor to EA’s beloved SSX franchise.

The new game, internally referred to as Project Gravity, was under development at SuperNatural, the independent studio founded by SSX series creators Steve Rechtschaffner and Larry LaPierre.

The project, backed by publisher 2K Games, promised to revitalize the high-energy, trick-based snowboarding gameplay that made SSX a staple for fans of the genre. SuperNatural’s founding team, with Rechtschaffner and LaPierre at the helm, set out to deliver an arcade-style, accessible, and competitive snow sports game that would capture the fun and spectacle of their earlier work.

According to sources close to the project, the developers envisioned Project Gravity as a live-service, free-to-play title, designed to bring the exhilarating experience of competitive snowboarding to a new generation of players across modern hardware platforms. As described by team members, the game was built from the ground up to create an "arcadey, enjoyable, and highly accessible" multiplayer environment—one that could appeal to both core gamers and newcomers.

With its focus on competitive play and accessible mechanics, Project Gravity was positioned to fill a notable gap in the current games market, particularly as nostalgia for sports-action titles like SSX persists. Unfortunately, despite strong creative leadership and support from 2K Games, Project Gravity became one of the many casualties during this year’s widespread organizational restructures and layoffs.

In a statement recast by industry observers, the SuperNatural team explained that shifting business priorities and rapid changes in the gaming landscape led to the difficult decision to halt development on the SSX successor.

As a result, years of work by a group deeply familiar with the genre were set aside, and the game will not reach players via digital storefronts like the eShop or see any future updates via Nintendo Direct announcements. The cancellation of Project Gravity underscores the volatile nature of today’s video game industry, where even projects with proven creative talent and industry support are not guaranteed for release.

While the SSX series has maintained a loyal following since its debut on platforms like PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube, the shuttering of its spiritual successor at SuperNatural is a poignant reminder of the challenges facing developers in realizing their visions. As fans express disappointment over Project Gravity’s demise, industry analysts continue to monitor the broader impact of layoffs and shifting market dynamics on beloved franchises and the creative teams behind them.

The legacy of SSX endures, but for now, the promise of a new snowboarding adventure from its original creators remains unfulfilled.

Steve SuperNatural SSX Project Gravity 2K Games Steve Rechtschaffner Larry LaPierre