Panache Digital Games unveiled 1666: Amsterdam – a new dark narrative action game – earlier this month. According to Game File’s Stephen Totilo, the title was at some point slated to be published by Xbox. In a social media post, Totilo has reported that Microsoft eventually cut funding for 1666: Amsterdam, leading the studio to go with self-publishing.
“As I reported in Game File, 1666: Amsterdam, the new game led by the lead creator of Assassin’s Creed, was going to be Xbox-published, before [Microsoft] cut funding,” wrote Totilo. He went on to draw comparisons with other projects that were slated to be published by Xbox, like an unnamed project by Romero Games.
“We have some difficult news to share,” posted CEO Brenda Romero last year. “Last night, we learned that our publisher has canceled funding for our game along with several other unannounced projects at other studios. This was a strategic decision made at a high level within the publisher, well above our visibility or control. We deeply wish there had been something, anything, we could have done to prevent this outcome.”
Totilo went on to discuss Kojima Productions’ horror project, OD. While last year’s layoffs at Microsoft had raised questions about whether the title would be going forward, Microsoft confirmed back in August that it was still in the works. Whether or not the latest round of expected layoffs and studio closures will impact the deal signed between Xbox and Kojima Productions remains to be seen.
Director Hideo Kojima has already confirmed that his studio is focusing all of its efforts on the development of OD and espionage game Physint this year. Describing it as the company’s “second phase”, where he would be “staying grounded and laying solid foundations” for future projects by the studio.
“Unlike last year, like I was traveling all over the world, this year will be about staying grounded and laying solid foundations. We will continue development on the horror game ‘OD’ and move forward with preparations for the espionage action title ‘Physint.’ This includes casting actors, scanning, and performance capture shoots,” he explained.
As for 1666: Amsterdam, the project is going to feature dark fantasy aesthetics, with players taking on the role of Noa Brooklyn – a Collector who has been raised by the Zaindaris to drive back malevolent forces working for entities known only as “the Originals”.
“It’s been a long time coming, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team of nearly 70 talented developers in Montreal,” said creative director Patrice Désilets when the game was announced. “For the past six years, we’ve focused on one thing above all else: the game itself. No fake footage, no vertical slices, just a playable experience evolving build after build, day after day.”
More recently, Panache Digital Games also released a brand-new trailer for 1666: Amsterdam, giving us a deeper look at the lore of the game and how the Collector will play into the dynamics between the enigmatic Originals and the Zaindaris tribe.
1666: Amsterdam is being developed for PC, and a free demo is currently available.
As I reported in Game File, 1666: Amsterdam, the new game led by the lead creator of Assassin's Creed, was going to be Xbox-published, before MS cut fundingThat means, in recent years, Xbox was backing games from him, the Romeros, and Kojma. Not every game pans out, but quite a set of partners
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo.bsky.social) 2026-06-29T15:35:23.433Z
