The Crossing

About

The Crossing was an ambitious shooter adventure from Arkane Studios that tried to link single-player campaigns with live multiplayer sessions. Players would cross parallel versions of modern Paris where one timeline suffered a government collapse and another saw the Knights Templar seize power after 1307. The plan involved threading these two stories together so that actions in one mode could influence the other. This concept aimed to blur the lines between solo play and online interaction in ways few games had attempted before. The project never actually reached players because Arkane faced financial trouble and paused development in May 2009. It was officially cancelled later on, though ZeniMax Media filed a new trademark for the title years after the shutdown. No community ratings or gameplay data exists since the game remains unfinished. This story highlights a bold idea that simply never got the chance to prove itself to gamers. The absence of any playable version leaves it as a curious footnote in gaming history rather than a title anyone can actually try out today.

Storyline

The game incorporated the idea of parallel universes, and was to be set across two vastly different renditions of modern day Paris. In one universe, which shares many aesthetic similarities to our own, Paris has descended into chaos following the collapse of government. In the other, the timeline diverged in 1307; where instead of being disbanded, the Knights Templar seize control of the French crown. The story takes the player across both universes.