At the Yeezy Season 3 fashion show and album listening party in February 2016, Kanye West dropped the first trailer for his mobile game Only One. Since then virtually no one has heard anything about the game's production or status. The game, which was first announced by the Graduation rapper in February 2015, takes the player on a lush journey through the heavens while playing as Donda West, West's mother.
Developed by the Los Angeles-based film and animation studio Encyclopedia Pictura, Only One is a game in limbo; no one has heard a thing about the game since mid-2016, a few months since West debuted the game's trailer.
According to sources who've spoken with Business Insider, Only One hasn't been in production since summer 2016. Encyclopedia Pictura initially denied these claims, stating, "We’ve continually worked on the project, through various stages of development, production, prototyping, re-development, more prototyping, then more production, before and after E3 2016."
The Gamer reached out to Encyclopedia Pictura for an update on the situation. They claim they are no longer involved with the project and declined to further comment.
So, it seems no one really knows what's up with this game - let alone if it's still in production. Encyclopedia Pictura's withdrawal from the project was probably a huge blow to production, as the game puts a major emphasis on aesthetic to appeal to the market - if the trailer is anything to go by.
Production on the game began in late 2014 and was formally announced by West in early 2015 during a radio interview with 105.1 FM's "The Breakfast Club." The game remained in active production from late 2014 to June 2016 with a staff of 14 individuals and virtually all of them have since moved on and taken full-time jobs elsewhere. West described the production process as follows:
"No, you don’t understand. I go out and meet with everybody in San Fran, and they’ll diss the f--- out of me. And I’ll be like, ‘I wanna make a game,’ and they’ll be like, ‘F--- YOU.’ That was hard to do, bro!"
So, will Only One ever see the light of day? Who knows. With Kanye West manning the project anything is possible and it probably won't debut silently, per usual Kanye West fashion.
But who knows, maybe his extravagant Sunday services are enough to keep him occupied for now.
Originally intended for iOS, Only One allows players to control Donda West as she makes her ascent to heaven. Donda West passed away in 2007, and the song "Only One" is dedicated in her memory.