Wolfenstein (Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Wolfenstein (Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3).

Concept ArtConcept art from various stages of Wolfenstein's development. RendersRenders of the models, including these that didn't make into the game. ScreenshotsScreenshots, which were made on test maps, as well as on campaign levels.

Development Timeline#

2004

• June - The game begins development.
• July - Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, says during an interview prior to Doom 3's release that a sequel to Return to Castle Wolfenstein is in development.¹

2005

• October 4 - Wolfenstein is officially announced at X05 as an exclusive title for the Xbox 360.²
• October 5 - id Software and Activision announce that the game will come out on PC.³
• October 18 - id co-owner Kevin Cloud reveals that Nerve Software will return to develop Wolfenstein's multiplayer mode.⁴

2007

• August 3 - Todd Hollenshead reveals that Threewave Software will co-develop Wolfenstein's multiplayer component.⁵

2008

• July 16 - A short trailer is shown at E3.⁶ Endrant Studios, one of the game's support studios, is also founded on this date.⁷
• August 1 - Gameplay is shown at QuakeCon.⁸

2009

• February 12 - Activision announces a release window of Summer.⁹
• June 1 - Activision announces a release date of August 4.¹⁰
• July 15 - The game's release is delayed to August 18.¹¹
• July 22 - Compile date of the leaked multiplayer build.
• August - A multiplayer build is leaked.¹²
• August 18 - Wolfenstein is released on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

Open World#

Originally, Wolfenstein was to be an open-world game in the vein of Grand Theft Auto, as id Software at the time thought that traditional linear shooters were dead. The final game's hub areas are the only remnants of this open-world concept, as Raven were pushing for more linear levels during development.

Thank you for this video. I was one of the developers on this game - I was a gameplay programmer and then gameplay designer on the title from 2005 till it shipped. The amount of memories this video brought up are shocking and man if you knew the stuff we didn’t ship your mind would be blown. Like at the beginning of the project - everything was open world. id was sure old school linear games were dead and wanted the entire game to be like GTA. It was awful. The tiny hub section we shipped was a remnant from that, and we pushed for linear levels the last two years of the dev cycle to unfuck the game. Weird to watch five years of your life summed up in 50 min but great video, glad you enjoyed the game and gave it another chance. - Manveer Heir

Personally I loved our original open world version of the game - with the dynamic encounters and cinematic car chase battles and the underground first person boxing ring where you got to punch out all kinds of Nazis (they each had individual stats and strengths and weaknesses and techniques to figure out)… heh. And I spent countless hours prototyping and playing a whole squad mechanic where you could lead a team of highly responsive and interactive AI squad members into a town and rescue people and give them orders and approach the battle in any way you wanted (think Arma). It was pretty awesome. I still have those playable demos… ;). - Michael Gummelt

Trailers#

X05 Announcement Trailer#

Watch on YouTube

Reveal Trailer#

The game's official reveal trailer. It has some differences from the final game, including:

• The introductory train ride was longer than in the final game, and would have been its own level.
• Some parts of the trailer show a cut sewer level.

Watch on YouTube

E3 Trailer#

Watch on YouTube

Behind the Scenes#

Watch on YouTube

References#