Just as quickly as Microsoft’s foray into free-to-play gaming with it’s Flight series started, it’s ending. Microsoft has confirmed to Kotaku that it’s cancelled development on both Flight and Project Columbia.
“Microsoft Studios is always evaluating its portfolio of products to determine what is best for gamers, families and the company, and this decision was the result of the natural ebb and flow of our portfolio management. Many factors were considered in the difficult decision to stop development on “Microsoft Flight” and “Project Columbia,” but we feel it will help us better align with our long-term goals and development plans. For “Microsoft Flight,” we will continue to support the community that has embraced the title and the game will still be available to download for free at http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/.” Microsoft
While we’re not exactly begging to get a final release for Project Columbia, which was intended to be an interactive children’s title featuring Kinect and learning techniques from Sesame Workshop, we are a little disappointed in the fate of Microsoft Flight as it had just been reborn this past February. There’s no word on how this will help Microsoft “better align with our long-term goals and development plans” yet.