Just What Is Sneaky Square Enix up to With Marvel?
Here at Pixel Judge, we love all things great and geeky, especially when two of our beloved mediums unite together. That’s why we’re especially intrigued by the news that Square Enix has joined forces with Marvel Entertainment as part of a new licensing agreement to develop and publish multiple original games based on the Marvel universe over the course of the next few years. The first game, as you can probably guess from the above teaser, sets its sights specifically on The Avengers.
With the success of each member’s solo films and the Avengers team-up blockbusters themselves, focusing first on this particular group of crime fighters is a logical and timely decision. I’m honestly a little surprised a deal like this hasn’t been struck sooner. The above teaser alludes to many of the core heroes we’re familiar with from the film franchise; we see Hulk smashed, Mjolnir lying discarded, that Tony Stark is a little less Iron Man (being down at least one robotic gauntlet) and that Steve Rogers has set down his shield.
It’s not explicitly stated that it’s Black Widow narrating but who else would be the next most obvious choice to reassemble The Avengers? Maria Hill would also make sense, of course (as would a few other names) but if we’re going to have a game about The Avengers, I’d personally love it if it centered on Black Widow…because we’re sure as shit not going to see a film do that any time soon (though do feel free to prove me wrong, Marvel).
Seeing what someone else does with the character would also wash away the bad taste left in my mouth from what I found to be a disappointing change of direction for Natasha Romanova in the last Avengers film, but I digress. This is all purely speculation on my part as that teaser trailer keeps most of its cards close to its chest. Who knows, they may decide to throw a complete curve ball and chuck Moondragon in there.
Square Enix and Marvel are enlisting the aid of two developers; reassembling the Avengers specifically will be the tag team of Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montreal. The press release boasts that the game will feature a completely original story and grand stands that this first game will set up video game universe that we’ll be playing around in for years to come. Other than that, details are very thin on the ground and the release says that more details will be announced in 2018.
*Guttural groaning in the distance*
Watch us here at Pixel Judge for more details when they are (eventually) released. In the mean time, be sure to check out the full press release below and the all-too-short teaser above.
GLENDALE, Calif. & TOKYO, JAPAN (January 26, 2017) – Marvel Entertainment and SQUARE ENIX® today announced a new multi-year, multi-game licensing agreement to develop and publish original games based on beloved Marvel Super Heroes, beginning with The Avengers. This newly established partnership pairs the creative minds at Marvel and Square Enix for one of the most powerful alliances in interactive entertainment. The first blockbuster game is being crafted by Crystal Dynamics®, developers of the award winning TOMB RAIDER® series, in collaboration with Eidos-Montréal, the home of the critically acclaimed and award-winning DEUS EX game series.
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.
The world premiere teaser trailer of The Avengers project can be seen here.
“By partnering with Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal, we are now working with two of the industry’s most talented and respected game development studios to bring Marvel stories to life in ways our fans have never experienced,“ said Jay Ong, Senior Vice President, Games & Innovation, Marvel Entertainment. “The Avengers project is a perfect example of how Marvel is making games a key part of the landscape for Marvel storytelling, alongside comics, television and film. We can only do this by matching our greatest Super Heroes with the world’s top developers, such as the creative minds at Square Enix.”
“Marvel’s diverse, innovative universe has created millions of longtime fans, including all of us,” said Phil Rogers, CEO, Square Enix Americas and Europe. “It’s exciting to bring together Square Enix’s award-winning development studios with Marvel’s extraordinary storytellers to establish a new entertainment powerhouse. This collaboration of passion and talent will craft epic, imaginative experiences allowing gamers to live out their Super Hero dreams like never before.”
Crystal Dynamics is the studio behind the critically acclaimed and world-famous TOMB RAIDER franchise, which has sold over 48 million copies worldwide. With over 30 video game titles released and hundreds of awards, the heroine Lara Croft has been a cultural icon for 20 years and has made an indelible mark on virtually every facet of entertainment. The most recent release, Rise of the Tomb Raider®, has received over 100 awards and nominations and is one of the highest rated games on next generation systems.
Eidos-Montréal is the award-winning studio behind the relaunch of the DEUS EX series. In 2011, the studio made its mark with the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution®. Its sequel, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided™, was released in 2016 and received more than 100 awards and nominations.
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