View source for TNA Impact! 2 (lost build of unfinished professional wrestling game; 2009)

{{InfoboxLost
|title=TNA Impact! 2</center>
|image=Tnaimpact1.jpg
|imagecaption=Cover art for ''TNA Impact!''
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
''TNA Impact!'' is a professional wrestling game developed and published by Midway Games in September 2008. Based on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), the game proved successful, selling 1.5 million units. Later in 2008, '''Midway Games announced a sequel to the game with an intended release in 2009, but the game was cancelled following Midway Games' bankruptcy'''.

==Background==
TNA's relationship with Midway Games began on 7th November, 2005, when the two companies forged a multi-year deal to produce professional wrestling games.<ref>[http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1131410794.shtml ''Wrestle View'' reporting on the TNA-Midway deal.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> With the assistance of various TNA wrestlers during brainstorming and motion capturing sessions,<ref>[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tna-wrestling-updates-game-debut/1100-6152439/ ''GameSpot'' reporting on the wrestlers' contributions towards ''TNA Impact!''.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> Midway Games' first TNA game, ''TNA Impact!'', would be released in September 2008.<ref>[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/shippin-out-september-8-12-nhl-tna-impact/1100-6197406/ ''GameSpot'' reporting on ''TNA Impact!'''s release.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> Selling around 1.5 million units across the PlayStation 2 and 3, Wii and Xbox,<ref>[https://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/y2k9/executive/dixie_carter.php ''Indian Television'' where TNA President Dixie Carter announced the game had sold around 1.5 million copies.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> the game received generally mixed reception by critics.<ref>[https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/tna-impact! ''Metacritic'' score of the PlayStation 3 version of ''TNA Impact!''.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref>

In December 2008, a Midway representative confirmed to ''GameSpot'' that the company was beginning work on a sequel, although no features nor platforms the game was intended to be released on were discussed. Nevertheless, it was confirmed that Midway intended to release it sometime in 2009.<ref>[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tna-braces-for-impact-2/1100-6202017/ ''GameSpot'' reporting on confirmation of ''TNA Impact! 2'''s development.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> In an interview with ''ESPN'', wrestler Samoa Joe discussed development of ''TNA Impact! 2'', having previously been influential in the original game's development. He claimed that motion-capturing and brainstorming sessions had been conducted, as well as a mock-up of the game to showcase its progress. He stated many features wrestling fans wanted for the game had been included, enhancing gameplay beyond the original which ultimately ended up losing three months of development because of Midway's financial situation.<ref>[https://www.espn.co.uk/videogames/news/story?id=4200232 ''ESPN'' article where Samoa Joe discussed development of ''TNA Impact! 2''.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref>

==Cancellation==
Despite ''TNA Impact!'''s success, Midway was in poor financial shape in 2008, which likely forced the company to hasten the game's development for an early release.<ref>[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/midway-posts-76-million-quarterly-loss/1100-6200856/ ''GameSpot'' reporting on Midway Games' losses in 2008.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> Ultimately, even though ''TNA Impact!'' sold well, it was not enough for Midway to financially sustain itself, as in February 2009, it filed for bankruptcy protection as it could not pay back accelerated debt obligations. These obligations arose from Sumner Redstone selling a majority stake in the company in December 2008.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/midway-games-facing-bankruptcy-after-redstones-sell-off/ ''CBS News'' reporting on Midway Games' financial situation in December 2008.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> According to the bankruptcy filing, Midway had accumulated debts of $281 million by 30th September, 2008.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29170503 ''NBC News'' reporting on Midway Games filing for bankruptcy protection.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref>

On 21st May, 2009, Warner Bros. placed a $33 million bid to purchase the assets of Midway Games. Ultimately, this did not include the rights to produce and publish TNA games, leaving ''TNA Impact! 2'''s future uncertain.<ref>[https://www.wrestleview.com/tna-news/8917-update-on-midway-and-tna-impact-2/ ''Wrestle View'' reporting on the Warner Bros. deal not including the TNA games licence.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> While SouthPeak Games announced it acquired the licence on 11th November, 2009,<ref>[https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/southpeak-acquires-tna-wrestling-assets-from-midway ''Games Industry'' reporting on SouthPeak Games acquiring the TNA games licence.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> the only title it would release was ''TNA Impact!: Cross the Line'' for the Nintendo DS and PSP in June 2010, which was essentially a port of ''TNA Impact! from the gold masters they acquired''.<ref>[https://www.gamesradar.com/tna-impact-cross-the-line-review/ ''Games Radar'' review of ''TNA Impact!: Cross the Line''.] Retrieved 14 Dec '21</ref> Thus, ''TNA Impact! 2'' was quietly cancelled.

==Availability==
Based on Samoa Joe's comments, a build of ''TNA Impact! 2'' was likely made prior to cancellation. However, no build of the game has ever resurfaced. Additionally, none of the motion capture work has ever been publicly released.

As a result of financial difficulties, Midway Games sold their development studio in San Diego to THQ in August 2009 for $200,000.<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/10/thq-acquires-midway-san-diego</ref> In March 2011, the San Diego studio released WWE All-Stars (as THQ San Diego), which some described as being very similar in game physics to the TNA game due to it being the same developer.<ref>https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/news/allstars/wwe-all-stars-sequel-was-supposed-to-happen-details-cut-features</ref> SouthPeak's purchase in November 2009 did not include the underlying assets and elements of the first TNA game, such as art files, music files, source code or motion capture data.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210713190307/https://www.lawinsider.com/contracts/2fFuw2ikutJUC7UE2sE3fU/midway-games-inc/asset-purchase-agreement/2009-10-15</ref> So with THQ going bankrupt in 2013, it is entirely possible that Take-Two Interactive / 2K Games (who purchased the WWE license from THQ) could hold the unreleased TNA assets, or it could be possible that THQ Nordic acquired the unreleased TNA assets as they acquired all left-over properties from THQ at the end of the asset sales.<ref>https://www.polygon.com/2013/4/22/4252414/nordic-games-thq-ip-auction-darksiders-red-faction-homeworld</ref> SouthPeak Games quietly went defunct in July 2013, meaning its unknown what happened to whatever TNA assets they held.<ref>[https://delistedgames.com/section-8/#:~:text=After%20a%20series%20of%20appeals,operations%20in%20July%20of%202013. https://delistedgames.com/section-8/#:~:text=After%20a%20series%20of%20appeals,operations%20in%20July%20of%202013.]</ref>

==See Also==
*[[AJ Styles vs Kenny Omega (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2006)]]
*[[Alberto Del Rio vs CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler vs Jack Swagger vs John Cena (partially found master tape footage of untelevised Hell in a Cell match; 2011)]]
*[[Awesome Kong vs Melissa Anderson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2009)]]
*[[Bill Longson vs Whipper Billy Watson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1947)]]
*[[Blood Circus (partially found Santo Gold film; 1985)]]
*[[Braden Walker's "Knock Knock" promo (lost original pre-tapes of WWE backstage segment; 2008)]]
*[[Bradshaw vs Christian (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2001)]]
*[[Bret Hart-Hulk Hogan photoshoot (lost professional wrestling promotional photos; 1993)]]
*[[Bret Hart vs Tom Magee (found untelevised professional wrestling match; 1986)]]
*[[Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)]]
*[[Celebrity Wrestling (partially found ITV professional wrestling reality show; 2005)]]
*[[Chowdaheads (partially found unaired professional wrestling cartoon show; 1999)]]
*[[Collision in Korea (found professional wrestling event in North Korea; 1995)]]
*[[Collision in Korea wrestler sketches (lost North Korean pencil sketch portraits of professional wrestlers; 1995)]]
*[[Cultaholic (found debut video of professional wrestling YouTube channel; 2017)]]
*[[ECW Anarchy Rulz (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 port of professional wrestling game; existence unconfirmed; 2000)]]
*[[ECW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)]]
*[[ECW Hardcore TV final episodes (lost episodes of Professional Wrestling Show; 2001)]]
*[[FMW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)]]
*[[The Game (partially found Disturbed cover of professional wrestling theme song; mid 2000s)]]
*[[GFW Amped (partially found unaired professional wrestling show; 2015)]]
*[[The Giant's moonsault (lost footage of professional wrestling move; existence unconfirmed; 1990s)]]
*[[Girls Gone Wild: Live from Spring Break (found WWE/Girls Gone Wild crossover special; 2003)]]
*[[GLOW (lost unfinished final season of Netflix comedy-drama series; 2019-2020)]]
*[[Goldberg's pre-television debut matches (lost footage of professional wrestling dark matches; 1997)]]
*[[Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1908)]]
*[[Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1911)]]
*[[Jake "The Snake" Roberts DDTs Hulk Hogan (lost Snake Pit segment; 1986)]]
*[[Johnny Gargano vs Velveteen Dream (lost footage of alternate finish to professional wrestling match; 2019)]]
*[[Kurt Angle vs Owen Hart (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1999)]]
*[[The Last Battle of Atlanta (found untelevised professional wrestling steel cage match; 1983)]]
*[[Lita's training matches (partially found training videos of professional wrestler; late 1990s-2000)]]
*[[Low Ki & Mercury vs Ric Blade & TCK (partially lost footage of hardcore wrestling tag team match; 2000)]]
*[[Mark Jindrak in Evolution (partially found unaired vignettes of professional wrestling stable; 2003)]]
*[[Pat Tanaka vs Rocco Rock (lost footage of "Body Count" professional wrestling match; 1993)]]
*[["Plane Ride From Hell" (lost photographs of drunk wrestler incidents; 2002)]]
*[[Radio WWF (lost professional wrestling radio show; 1993-1994; late 1990s-2000)]]
*[[Screwed: The Bret Hart Story (lost unfinished wrestling documentary film; 2005)]]
*[[Sex University (lost WWE webshow; 2006)]]
*[[Shin Nihon Pro Wrestling Gekitou Densetsu (lost build of unreleased Virtual Boy wrestling game; 1995)]]
*[[Strange Kentucky People (lost recording of Chris Jericho "tribute"; 1994)]]
*[[TNA International and TNA Wrestling Collection (completely lost pro-wrestling TV shows; 2006)]]
*[[TNA Xplosion (partially found TV series; 2002-2016)]]
*[[WCW 2000 (lost work on unfinished PlayStation 2 game; 2000)]]
*[[WCW All Nighter (partially lost professional wrestling compilation show; 1994-1995)]]
*[[WCW Classics (partially found professional wrestling compilation show; 2000-2001)]]
*[[WCW Internet-only Special Events and PPVs (lost audio streams; 1997-1998)]]
*[[WCW/nWo Live (lost build of cancelled PlayStation professional wrestling game; 1998)]]
*[[WWE 24x7 (lost professional wrestling compilation show; 2007)]]
*[[WWE Brawl (lost build of cancelled fighting game based on professional wrestling; 2012)]]
*[[WWE Crush Hour (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of vehicular combat game; 2002)]]
*[[WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online (lost build of cancelled online professional wrestling PC game; 2010-2011)]]
*[[WWE Wrestlemania 36 (lost footage of alternate finishes to professional wrestling matches; 2020)]]
*[[WWF Attitude (lost professional wrestling recap show; 2001-2002)]]
*[[WWF Backlash (non-existent unfinished Nintendo 64 professional wrestling game; 2001)]]
*[[WWF Excess (partially found professional wrestling talk show; 2001-2002)]]
*[[WWF In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog (partially found untelevised professional wrestling matches; 1996)]]
*[[WWF Livewire (partially found professional wrestling recap and talk show; 1996-2001)]]
*[[WWF No Mercy (lost Game Boy Color games based on Nintendo 64 wrestling game; 2000)]]
*[[WWF Shotgun (partially found July to December season of syndicated wrestling show; 1997)]]
*[[WWF Xperience (found pay-per-view event footage; 1996)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]