Alastair Cornish, a designer who worked on Sleeping Dogs, stated that there is still potential for a sequel in the series. However, for the project to truly come to fruition, several conditions must align, including development costs, production team availability, and target market readiness.
In an interview with FRVR, Cornish discussed the canceled Sleeping Dogs 2. According to VGC, he expressed disappointment but noted that given the development costs at the time, the outcome was not particularly surprising. Vancouver, home to United Front Games, hosts numerous game studios, and this competition has driven up team salaries and operational expenses.
Cornish believes the feasibility of a sequel depends on graphical specifications, the target market, and whether development tools can reduce costs. The production team also needs to carefully manage the budget, promptly determining which elements are effective and which should be abandoned. Only when all these factors work together can Sleeping Dogs have a chance to return.
The original Sleeping Dogs was developed by Canadian studio United Front Games and published by Square Enix. Released in 2012, it is an open-world action-adventure game. A sequel entered the planning stage but was canceled in early 2013; the online spin-off Triad Wars also ceased development in late 2015 after testing.
Regarding the potential format of a sequel, Cornish emphasized that an open world cannot simply be about expanding the map. He believes some titles add numerous repetitive activities and collectibles without adequately justifying the need for an open-world design. The industry is no longer blindly chasing larger maps; more focused scales and tighter content are becoming common.
The Sleeping Dogs film adaptation has similarly faced its share of twists and turns. The project was first announced in 2017. Donnie Yen previously stated that the movie had effectively been canceled, while Simu Liu later mentioned he was working with the rights holders, hoping to bring the film to the big screen first before pushing for a game sequel.