As stated, their maintenance contract ended in May. Afterwards, tweaks were no longer reported to us by Jaffe and were posted on the official forum by an SMS member. It's the norm for a dev to maintain a game through its life cycle if they're a first-party dev, or otherwise under contract with the publisher, but not otherwise. Do you realize how expensive it would be for Sony to keep ESP under contract, which was dismantling and stated they intended to move into mobile games before TM even released? That doesn't mean that I'm any less bitter that ESP didn't do more during the time it was around, but SMS dropped the ball as well for the long period that TM was their responsibility. When did they state the game was unrepairable? What proof do you have that they spent instance amounts of time and money? How are all those claims substantiated at all?

Making stuff up is so fun though.

You're speaking like having Sweet Tooth's head in a skateboarding game is something that would drive sales. As TM diehards, I highly doubt it inclines us any more to purchase Tony Hawk, since there hasn't been a single post along the lines up "I'll totally pick the game up now because of Sweet Tooth being there". I highly doubt that his head being included will be the tipping factor for anyone (and if so, very few), so why jump all the hurdles to get him licensed and in the game? Sure, there's a novelty about crossing characters from other games, but the vast majority of the time it's characters from active IPs that people are still talking about and excited for. Why get people talking and reminded about Twisted Metal? It's not like Super Smash Bros. or PlayStation All-Stars, where the core premise of the game is bringing together all these franchises, and those games wouldn't exist without their wide range of characters. Tony Hawk is nothing more with Sweet Tooth's inclusion, so why go to the effort? At least it gets me a little excited, since I believe things happen for a reason. What that reason is still unknown, but you can't blame me for being hopeful.

You haven't responded yet so I'll just add this addendum which I would have said if you'd responded.

Your position on the last point is self refuting.

You are trying to say I am wrong by asking if I REALLY believe that adding Sweet Tooth to releases makees money.  First, it doesn't matter what I believe, or even what the truth is, it matters what Sony AND the third party believes.

Clearly in pretty much every one of these cases they are spending the time and money to add him in the first place (which a business does NOT do unless they think it makes money) AND they are BLATANTLY bragging about it.

This proves that yes, they do BELIEVE that they are using a nonperforming asset (Twisted Metal) and having it perform in a moderate way . . . which is what I was saying. Particularly in the case of a dead series (which I'm not saying Twisted Metal for sure is, just that I think it is) this is exactly what a company would want because the assett is doing SOMETHING.

So there.  Did you understand any of that?

Muddeh, do you know what logic is?  I can tell you're the kind of person who needs an official "quote" in order to know something.  That's not logic though my friend.

My argument was simple.  Sweet Tooth as DLC is a simple attempt to use the assett of Twisted Metal since it is currently non performing.

My proof of this is that they brag about said DLC.  That proves the conclusion.  Clearly Sony and the makers of Rocket League believe that Twisted Metal is helping the said product or they both WOULDN'T DO IT or they wouldn't brag about it.

It's as simple as that.  There is NO other conclusion.  That's logic. 

I don't know what you do when you think but it's something else.

I also don't pounce on everything you say, but you say some pretty messed up stuff.  So from time to time, yeah, I take you to task for it.  You don't connect the threads in your writing and it drives me nuts. Here, let me break down the threads for you:

1. Businesses are primarily driven and act upon the desire to make money.
2.  Therefore actions businesses take show that they at least believe it has a good chance of making them money.
3.  Therefore businesses review all assets, including non performing, in order to find ways for them to make them money.
4.  Twisted Metal is currently a nonperforming asset (no new games, old sales are slow).
5.  Therefore, because of point one, Sony is looking for ways for this asset to make money.
6.  Sony is licensing this asset to third parties and bragging about its use and is definitaly being paid for said use - therefore making money.
7.  Other company is advertising said use of Twisted Metal as a positive in its commercials.
8.  Because other company also adheres to point one above, its sole purpose, and all actions, are about making money.
9.  In conclusion, both Sony and third parties above BELIEVE that using Twisted Metal in this way is making money, which is better than a dead asset doing nothing.

That's real proof.  Not a goddamn fucking quote, real proof.

Sony has the rights to use Sweettooth however they want, just like Namco has the rights to use Splatterhouse characters however they want.  Namco puts the Terror Mask in a few games, nods to the series, etcetera; yet has publicly said they are not continuing with the franchise.  So, that brings everything back to the beginning.  It means they could be seeing if there is a big enough fanbase to continue with another TM game or it could be because some creators like the character.

From what I gather, unconfirmed rumors of Twisted Metal for PS4, and Sweet Tooth getting shilled out unfortunately. Thanks $ony!