Marvel's Blade: A Closer Look at the Lengthy Development Timeline

The Lengthy Development Timeline

Marvel's Blade has been in production for nearly two years, which is significantly longer than its reveal trailer implied. According to some newly emerged evidence, the development of the game started as early as January 2022, contrary to the assumption that it had just begun. This revelation adds more context to the confusion surrounding Marvel's Blade target platforms, as questions concerning its potential exclusivity are directly tied to the current status of the project.

Dishonored developer Arkane Studios announced Marvel's Blade during The Game Awards 2023 show on December 7. The brief reveal trailer ended with a note that the game is 'now in development.' The wording of that message naturally led many to assume that the work on the project had literally just started.

But it would appear that is not the case, at least according to the LinkedIn profile of Arkane Studios Campaign Director Dana Nightingale. The page, first spotted by Twitter user BethWilder26, states that Nightingale has been working as the principal designer of the Marvel's Blade campaign since January 2022. Given her current role and overall seniority at the company, it stands to reason that she has been involved in the project since its inception.

This bit of insight implies that Marvel's Blade started development about a year after Microsoft completed its acquisition of Arkane parent ZeniMax Media. The project began just six months after Bethesda went on record to state that its Indiana Jones game is still in 'very early stages.' Since Arkane and MachineGames are similar-sized companies, their two titles based on Disney IPs might actually be at fairly similar stages of development right now, even though Marvel's Blade was clearly kept under wraps for much longer.

Twitter article posted by Idle Sloth

Implications for the Current Console Generation

This turn of events also casts a lot of doubt on the theory that Arkane's next title could miss the current console generation. For reference, that was previously touted as one possible explanation for why Marvel's Blade hasn't yet been confirmed as an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive. Namely, Microsoft officials were previously on record as saying that the company makes target platform decisions on a per-case basis and only once a release is in sight. E.g., that's why Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer refused to discuss TES 6 target platforms during a June 2023 court hearing, stating how that title is still at least five years out.

But if Marvel's Blade has already been in production since early 2022, the game should definitely be on course to launch during the current console generation, barring any unforeseen issues. Although AAA development cycles have certainly gotten longer in recent times, Arkane's output remains fairly consistent, with the studio's projects still running for roughly four years, on average.

Another reason to believe that Marvel's Blade has already been in development for a while now is the fact that Arkane historically avoided announcing titles that were still in their infancy. Granted, that practice could have changed under Microsoft ownership.

The Impact of Development Timeline on Target Platforms

The length of Marvel's Blade's development timeline has significant implications for the confusion surrounding its potential exclusivity and target platforms. The evidence pointing to a longer development period raises questions about whether the game will be a console exclusive and which platforms it will be available on.

For instance, the fact that Microsoft makes target platform decisions on a per-case basis and only once a release is in sight adds to the uncertainty. The timeline also challenges previous theories about why Marvel's Blade hasn't yet been confirmed as an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive.

The ongoing debate about the game's target platforms is further complicated by the evolving landscape of game development and the impact of corporate acquisitions, as evidenced by the acquisition of Arkane Studios' parent company, ZeniMax Media, by Microsoft.