‘Mirror’s Edge Catalyst’ Is Not A Sequel, Says DICE

A new Mirror’s Edge with a Catalyst sub-title is on the way to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. However, DICE Senior Producer Sara Jansson wants to make clear that this is not a sequel to the original first-person freerunning game that was released nearly seven years ago.

The official Mirror’s Edge Twitter account first teased the new Catalyst sub-title Monday night with a definition. This came after IGN sniffed out a trademark filing for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst by Electronic Arts.

#mirrorsedge pic.twitter.com/hTG9sZRbAR

— Mirror’s Edge (@mirrorsedge) June 8, 2015

That led into a rare update to the Mirror’s Edge website via an open letter to gamers from the title’s senior producer. Much can change in seven years, and that includes the approach to the title.

“Mirror’s Edge has always had a special place in the hearts of all of us at DICE,” Jansson wrote. “The first game had a lot of promise. It was unlike anything else in terms of the gameplay and style — it had a unique soul. But as much as we loved that game, we knew it could be more. So that’s what we have set out to do as we introduce Mirror’s Edge to a new generation.”

“The team has spent a lot of time re-evaluating every aspect of the game and making it a new experience. This is not a sequel, this is not Mirror’s Edge 2,” she continued. “We have landed on a vision that honors the first game — pushing the boundaries of first person movement and diving deeper into the story behind our heroine Faith — but also brings a lot of great new, interesting gameplay and features to the experience for our players.”

This sounds more and more like a reboot or re-imagining of the original game that perhaps delves more into the past of the main character, Faith. The original game was hailed for its style and gameplay, but criticized for its length, lack of depth, and inconsistent mechanics.

Rumors of a sequel persisted for many years, with DICE constantly being asked by fans and the press when more was coming. The unveiling of a new Mirror’s Edge at E3 2014 was the first mention of a reboot versus a sequel, though.

While the original did become a cult classic, it did not meet its original 3 million unit sales projections. An all new generation of gamers who have never experienced the game before are waiting in the wings for Electronic Arts to attempt to wow during its E3 2015 presentation at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT on Monday, June 15.

[Images via Mirror’s Edge]