Over a decade after its cancellation, the controversial Six Days in Fallujah is back in development

Project rebooted by Highwire Games

Over a decade ago, Konami announced that it was working with developer Atomic Games on new tactical shooter Six Days in Fallujah, which would recount the real-life story of the Second Battle of Fallujah – a horrifying urban conflict that took place in the winter of 2004 as part of the Iraq War and remains mired in controversy to this day. In the face of negative publicity, and despite Konami’s insistence its title would present a respectful and non-sensationalized “documentary” of the brutal encounter, the plug was pulled on the project in 2009.

Today, 11 years since the unfinished release was consigned to the vault, publisher Victura and developer Highwire Games have announced their intentions to reboot the project, re-opening development on Six Days in Fallujah with an eye to releasing the cancelled title on PC and consoles later in 2021.

“Sometimes the only way to understand what’s true is to experience reality for yourself,” says former Marine Sergeant Eddie Garcia, who initially proposed the idea for Six Days in Fallujah, having fought in the battle themselves. “War is filled with uncertainty and tough choices that can’t be understood by watching someone on a TV or movie screen make these choices for you. Video games can help all of us understand real-world events in ways other media can’t.”

“It’s hard to understand what combat is actually like through fake people doing fake things in fake places,” says Victura CEO Peter Tamte on the official website. “This generation showed sacrifice and courage in Iraq as remarkable as any in history. And now they’re offering the rest of us a new way to understand one of the most important events of our century. It’s time to challenge outdated stereotypes about what video games can be.”

Perhaps pre-empting the return of negative press, Victura stresses that Highwire is working closely with “over 100” former and current soldiers who were involved in the Battle of Fallujah, with the aim of ensuring that Six Days in Fallujah is “the most authentic military shooter to date” with the game’s narrative and characters “[telling] these military and civilian stories with the integrity they deserve.” Victura will release further information about Six Days in Fallujah in the coming weeks and months.