Sam & Max sequel canceled

Sad news came today for fans of the 1993 PC game Sam & Max Hit the Road. LucasArts has canceled its PC sequel, Sam & Max Freelance Police, only a few months before its planned spring 2004 release.

"After careful evaluation of current market place realities and underlying economic considerations, we've decided that this was not the appropriate time to launch a graphic adventure on the PC" said Mike Nelson, acting general manager and VP of finance and operations at LucasArts, in a brief release. The release also revealed that LucasArts will not let any staff go as a result of the cancellation of the game, which was being internally developed.

Despite significant interest, Sam & Max Freelance Police had been shrouded in mystery since it was originally announced in August of 2002. All that was known was that it would be 3D and that it would continue its titular dog and rabbit heroes' adventures. At the time, LucasArts seemed enthusiastic about the project. "Sam & Max Hit the Road is a classic and [is] as close to being a signature game as any LucasArts has ever done," said the company's then-president Simon Jeffery.