What The Square Enix Marvel Collaboration Could Mean For Video Games
Square Enix and Marvel have teamed up but what kind of video game project could they produce?
Yesterday via Twitter both Marvel and Square Enix prepped everyone for a big reveal today. While the tweets were independent of each other, many quickly assumed it was a collaboration and they were correct. In the form of a “multi-year, multi-game partnership,” the two have plans to expand the Marvel franchise even further going into the realm of video games. The short teaser below hints at an Avengers project being the first of many.
In an official statement, Marvel Entertainment and Square Enix provided more details. Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider series) and Eidos-Montréal (Deus Ex) will lead efforts on the first Avengers project. There is currently a lack of details regarding this project other than it introducing “a universe gamers can play in for years to come” and 2018 being the year to expand upon details of this project and many others.
Marvel Entertainment and Square Enix announced today a multi-year, multi-game partnership, leading with the reveal of The Avengers project. This newly established partnership pairs the creative minds at Marvel and Square Enix for one of the most powerful alliances in interactive entertainment.
A game based on beloved Marvel heroes, The Avengers project is being crafted by Crystal Dynamics – longtime developers of the award winning Tomb Raider series – in collaboration with lauded Deus Ex developer Eidos-Montréal.
The Avengers project is being designed for gamers worldwide and will be packed with all the characters, environments, and iconic moments that have thrilled longtime fans of the franchise. Featuring a completely original story, it will introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come. More details on The Avengers project and other games will be announced in 2018.
So what can we expect from this sort of team up? Fans have been longing for a Marvel RPG (Role Playing Game) for quite some time. With Square Enix’s niche market falling into this genre, my guess would be this is a route that Marvel and Square Enix could take. The verbiage “a universe gamers can play in for years to come” leads me to believe that a RPG is likely and maybe even a MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). The MMO is less likely due to the risk, competition, and failure of many other MMOs. “Star Wars The Old Republic” is a prime example of a well-executed MMO that is still trying to recover. Marvel even made an attempt at an MMO similar to the mechanics of the popular “Marvel Ultimate Alliance” game and was titled “Marvel Heroes,” but like many MMOs, it quickly failed becoming a free to play game.
While Square Enix is known for their RPG games (particularly the “Final Fantasy” series), the partnership could have been established based upon distribution. As a distributor, they’ve been involved with superhero related games such as “Batman Arkham Asylum” and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” which are held in high regard by many fans. They’ve also previously worked with the aforementioned developers on “Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light” and “Deus Ex: Human Revolution” so it’s no surprise to see them on the list of partnerships.
Could this partnership be based around distribution?
One thing that Square Enix does do better than anything is their ability to tell a story. Whether the collaboration produces a RPG or not, I’m sure that we can expect a comic book worthy story within the final product.
Regardless of how the Marvel and Square Enix partnership is structured, this is bringing together two of the biggest names in their respective markets for a project with great potential.
Tell us your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.
Source: CBR
