Despite statements that Thief 4’s combat would be mechanically designed to discourage outright attacks by the players, developers Eidos Montreal have admitted one system went too far. The element that they have now opted to remove is the much criticised experience system, which was to be added to the game.

Announced in a blog post, the developers stated that they wanted to put emphasis upon stealing things in the player’s own way, whether this was to kill guards or sneak through unseen. However, the negative feedback to certain aspects seen in the demo, namely bonus XP for performing headshots, pushed them to enact this major change. Discussing the points in the blog post, Game Director Nic Cantin and Lead Level Designer Daniel Windfeld Schmidt, both agreed that “the E3 reaction was right, rewarding killing like that was wrong for a Master Thief.”

In place of the experience the developers have stated that gold will instead be used to buy aspects to help progress through the game. This will encourage the players to steal more items to help themselves, but will not directly encourage mass assassinations in order to improve their skills. “It was always possible to play without using XP,” Windfeld Schmidt admitted “like it is still possible to play through the game without killing anyone or even spending any coin (though it isn’t going to be easy!)”

While this is good news to many, the final statement of the blog post noted that Eidos Montreal’s Community Manager Adam Badke has left the studio. Reasons for doing so were stated to be in order to “pursue new opportunities” but as of yet there is no word on whom will be brought into replace him.

These are both major changes, which have taken place within a short period of time. One has to wonder how many more changes we will see before the title is released.

Share your comments below or on Twitter @STARBURST_MAG

Find your local Starburst Magazine stockist HERE, or buy direct from us HERE. Our issues are also available as iPad editions, and can be downloaded via Apple HERE.

CLICK CHUCKY FOR OUR LATEST ISSUE!