Scribblenauts: Fighting Words (lost build of cancelled iOS adaptation of emergent puzzle-action video game series; 2014-2016)
Beta sign-up picture for the game showing its logo.
Status: Cancelled
Scribblenauts: Fighting Words was supposed to be the iOS adaptation of Scribblenauts but was cancelled by Warner Bros, resulting in 45 employess of 5th Cell, the game's developer, to be laid off. It was the working title [1] of a mobile game planned as part of the innovative Scribblenauts franchise, which allowed players to conjure solutions to problems by typing any word that comes to mind.
Development and Cancellation
Scribblenauts: Fighting Words was being developed by 5th Cell for iOS devices. Development started in 2014, and the game was due to be released in 2016. [2] The gameplay would have involved typing up any object that comes to mind in order to solve puzzles, similarly to previous entries in the series. However, after nearly two years of development, Warner Bros. cancelled the game for unknown reasons, resulting in 45 of 5th Cell's employees being laid off, including lead animator Tim Borrelli. [3] Shortly before the project's cancellation, 5th Cell allowed gamers to sign up for the beta release at https://scribbeta.wbgames.com/, meaning that work on the game was likely almost done before WB pulled the plug. Despite this, no footage or screenshots of the game were made publicly available. It is unknown if the game was going to be released on Android devices, like the other mobile adaptation, Scribblenauts Remix, as well as the mobile version of Scribblenauts Unlimited were.