When James Gunn officially took over as co-CEO of DC Studios, he quickly got to work clearing house and setting up his new DCU. Most of the DCEU actors have been cut, and it is looking like the DCU will be a reboot that hopefully does the cinematic universe right this time. While the official plans for the universe have yet to be revealed, it sounds like Gunn may want to attempt to connect video games to the growing DCU, and this could lead to a pretty interesting universe.
DC has tried to build its own version of the MCU for years now, and James Gunn's DCU may finally be the cinematic universe the studio has wanted. Adding DC games to the mix could help the studio tell very different stories from the MCU, and would really help the universe set itself apart from Marvel Studios' franchise. This could be great news for DC fans, but it could also be bad news for DC games. While it could help bolster the DCU in new ways, there is a chance that connecting DC games to the DCU may stifle the creative potential of video game developers in the long run.
DCU Video Games are an Exciting Uncharted Territory
If the DCU truly does connect video games to it then that would lead to a new kind of cinematic universe. Marvel popularized the cinematic universe model with the very popular and successful MCU, but that universe has mostly stayed within the framework of movies and TV. DC tried to replicate that with its DCEU, but that became a disorganized mess by the end of its tenure. The DCU will attempt to right the ship and capture the success of the MCU again, and adding video games to the mix could help it blaze its own trail.
There has been no official announcement of any DCU video games, but James Gunn did confirm that DC Studios is looking into it via Twitter. These games could simply be quick little tie-in adventures, or they could be large comic book adventures similar to the Batman: Arkham series. Whatever form they take, their addition could lead to a unique universe that spans multiple visual mediums, and it could be a treat for DC fans.
DCU games would allow DC to fully flesh out its universe of characters in new ways and would let fans play an active part in the franchise's story. It would be a unique type of cinematic universe, and video games could lead to a brand-new level of storytelling potential for the DCU. Depending upon the success, it could even lead to more franchises taking notes from the DCU rather than from the MCU. While DC fans will have to wait to learn more, the concept is fascinating and may be exactly what DC needs right now.
Connecting DC Games to the DCU Could Limit Their Potential
While the addition of games to the DCU could be cool, it may also stifle the creativity of the video games. Developers may no longer be able to explore their own version of comic book characters like Rocksteady did with the Arkham series. Instead, the developers would have to stay within the confines of a pre-established franchise. They could not go out of their way to tell their own story or use the characters that they want, but they would have to follow the rules laid out by the DCU.
DC Studios is not opposed to exploring Elseworld projects as seen with Matt Reeves' Batman series, and DC games may follow suit. Not every game may be a part of the DCU, and that would allow unique DC stories like Arkham to continue. However, if the DCU is a success then DC games will likely want to put more resources into building out that franchise rather than disconnected ones. This could lead to less unique worlds and experiences, and the games may lose what made them feel special.
DC games, and superhero games in general, have always explored new areas of their respective superhero universes and told new stories that the films have not. Rocksteady crafted a very interesting Batman-centric story with its Arkham series, Traveller's Tales got to play with a roster of villains in LEGO DC Super-Villains, Telltale Games told its own Batman tale in Batman: The Telltale Series, and NetherRealm Studios has explored a pretty interesting universe with its Injustice series. None of these games were tied down by what came before, and the developers could tell the stories that they wanted to tell. If these developers had to follow the DCU then they would not have been able to craft unique games, and DC fans would have never been able to experience these iconic tales.
Adding games to the DCU could also lead to players just playing them because they have to rather than because they want to. A common critique of the MCU is that there is just too much content, and the connectivity of it means that fans have to watch every project if they want to keep up. This can make some fans feel like it is more of a chore rather than an enjoyable experience, and the DCU games have a high chance of doing the same. If they are integral to the plot of the franchise then players may play them out of necessity, and that could give players franchise fatigue.
DCU games are not a sure thing until one is officially announced, but DC Studios is interested in exploring the concept. While there are still plenty of DC games in the works including Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueand Monolith's Wonder Woman, the DCU may change DC's approach to games going forward. The DCU games could all be great experiences, but there is also a chance that it prevents developers from telling the stories they want to tell. The DC games landscape may soon change drastically, but DC fans will just have to wait until James Gunn is ready to officially unveil his grand plans.