Star Wars AR iPhone game to be pulled from sale as THQ licence ends

Developer Vertigore breaks the bad news, saying it scotches plans for an iPad 2 and Android version of Falcon Gunner.

iPhone-owning Star Wars fans who haven't yet bought THQ Wireless' augmented reality game Star Wars Arcade: Falcon Gunner better get their skates on: it's being pulled from the App Store this Thursday.

The game's developer Vertifore Games broke the news in a blog post. "Unfortunately, our license to make Star Wars games was predicated on our amazing publisher THQ Wireless' arrangement with the Lucasfilm folks, and that seems to be winding down," writes Vertigore's Josh Shabtai, suggesting the same problem may affect other THQ-published Star Wars games.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad.  Especially when I knew what we had planned:  An awesome iPad 2 version. An Android version. Visual interaction in AR mode (see, we even listen to haters!). And last but not least, a Battle of Endor update, complete with an interactive backing track from Nien Numb."

It seems none of those will come to pass now. If Star Wars games really are being pulled from the App Store, it may hint that Lucasfilm has a deal already lined up with one of THQ's rivals, who are ready to debut some new games. If not, it may be counter-productive from the studio's point of view - Star Wars will have no visibility on the App Store.