Though the Marvel Cinematic Universe has found itself in some troubled waters recently, the company's video game division is about to receive an influx of exciting new content. Insomniac is getting ready to come out to bat - and hopefully knock it out of the park - with Marvel's Spider-Man 2 later this year, presumably followed quite closely by Marvel's Wolverine. Marvel Snap is still a mobile phenomenon, and EA Motive has an Iron Man game in the works. But that's not enough for Marvel, who's just announced a new Black Panther game.
Being published by EA and developed by brand new studio Cliffhanger Games, this newly announced Black Panther game is said to be a single-player experience set in the hero's home of Wakanda. But this isn't the only game featuring Black Panther currently in the works. Skydance is also actively developing a Marvel video game, one where Black Panther is a primary playable character. Both of these games could end up releasing in fairly close proximity to one another, but there are a few things each can do to stand out.
How EA's Black Panther Game Can Separate Itself From Skydance's Marvel Game
First unveiled back in September of last year during the D23 Expo, Skydance's Marvel game is still shrouded in mystery, though its debut trailer does give fans a few big hints as to what the game will be about. Skydance's Marvel game seems to be set during World War 2, with the main antagonistic force being Hydra. Players will take control of four characters during the course of the game, including Captain America, Black Panther, Gabriel Jones of the Howling Commandos, and Nanali of the Wakandan Spy Network. With Uncharted's Amy Hennig at the helm, it seems likely that this game will have a strong narrative focus, and will be a single-player action-adventure game.
EA and Cliffhanger Games' newly announced Black Panther game has even less information available. According to the initial press release, this Black Panther game will also be a single-player title, also putting a strong emphasis on the narrative. But while both EA and Skydance's Black Panther-led games share these qualities, there are plenty of elements that separate the two already.
One of the biggest differences already shown between Skydance and EA's Marvel games is their playable characters. While EA's Black Panther game will likely just revolve around the titular hero, Skydance's game has the aforementioned four playable characters at its disposal, with the game switching between them throughout its duration. EA and Skydance's games also have quite different settings. EA's Black Panther game will reportedly focus entirely on Wakanda, potentially giving players an open-world sandbox to explore, if the wording in the initial press release is anything to go by.
Skydance's Marvel game, on the other hand, will apparently be a "globe-trotting" adventure, likely starting players in Wakanda and quickly moving its characters onto the rest of the world. Another big difference between the two games is the Black Panther themselves. Skydance's Black Panther will be Azzuri, T'Challa's grandfather, and though the identity of EA's Black Panther hasn't been confirmed yet, it's likely to be T'Challa, or potentially Shuri.
To stand out from one another, all these games need to do is double down on these elements that already make them unique. Skydance should ensure that its Marvel game really focuses on its multiple playable characters and its unique WW2 setting, while EA and Cliffhanger games should focus on Black Panther's specific motivations and abilities, as well as Wakanda as an open-world setting. Achieving this should make the two Black Panther games look and feel completely different.
Cliffhanger Games' Black Panther is currently in development.