Highlights
- Marvel games have had a mixed track record of success, with Insomniac's Spider-Man titles being the standout hits.
- Skydance's upcoming Marvel game will need to exceed fans' expectations and prove that the studio can deliver quality experiences.
- The game's setting and less well-known playable characters may present challenges, but there is hope for a brand-new exciting experience for Marvel fans.
Marvel seems to be everywhere these days, and some of the biggest video game companies are all trying to get a slice of that market. Square Enix took players on brand-new adventures with both Marvel's Avengers and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Firaxis experimented with the IP through Marvel's Midnight Suns, Insomniac has been blowing fans away with its Marvel's Spider-Man series, and now Skydance is taking the franchise for a spin with its new game. While all that sounds like fun, future Marvel titles may be facing an incredibly steep uphill battle.
The only recent Marvel games that seem to have succeeded were Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man titles. The rest of them have either fallen flat with audiences or were commercial disappointments for various reasons. This puts a lot of pressure on future Marvel games to deliver, and especially on Skydance's upcoming outing as it will be the studio's chance to prove itself. While not much is known about the game yet, there seems to already be a lot riding on it and that could prove to be its downfall.
Skydance Will Have to Exceed Marvel Fans' Expectations
Skydance has an incredible team led by industry veteran Amy Hennig. The studio is built around the idea of delivering fantastic new story-driven experiences that challenge players' expectations. While it does not have any games to its name yet, it has already signed partnerships with Disney for a new Star Wars and Marvel game. Not much is known about either experience, but they will likely have a lot to prove.
At D23, Skydance revealed a bit more information about its upcoming Marvel game and fans are excited to see more. It will be putting players in control of an ensemble of four Marvel characters during World War 2. Players will be able to play as Captain America, a WW2-era Black Panther, US soldier Gabriel Jones, and Nanali, the leader of Wakanda's spy network. It is said to be a fast-paced adventure inspired by Marvel's rich history and should be a unique treat for fans of the IP.
It feels like Skydance is aiming to release its Marvel game before its Star Wars title, and that puts a lot of pressure on the game to deliver. It will need to show players that these IPs are in safe hands, that the studio knows how to develop quality experiences, and that Skydance is here to stay. The marketing campaign also needs to work hard to get fans excited about buying into the game, especially after so many Marvel titles have failed to deliver.
Skydance has not revealed any actual gameplay details for its Marvel game yet, and some fans are a bit worried about it. Marvel games have not really released a non-Spidey-related project that resonated with players lately, even if they featured iconic characters. Its setting is certainly its most unique element, though two of the game's playable characters are less immediately interesting based on their obscurity in that era. While it is too early to judge the game, it does feel like there is a lot stacked up against it.
Players will likely learn more about the upcoming Marvel game soon, and hopefully it is able to deliver. Marvel fans desperately want a brand-new exciting experience to sink hours into, and it is about time that Spider-Man stops dominating the genre. It may be hard to reach the heights of Marvel's Spider-Man, but Skydance may need to if it wants any chance at making a name for itself.
Skydance’s Marvel game is in development.