Skydance's Potential Blueprint for a Four-Character Marvel Game

Article Key Points

Skydance New Media's game based on the Fantastic Four has the potential to bring a refreshing twist to the superhero genre, considering the team's limited presence in the gaming world compared to other Marvel characters.

Skydance has the opportunity to develop a fresh and superior modern rendition of the Fantastic Four, as there haven't been any successful portrayals of the team in movies or games before. This relieves them from the burden of meeting audience expectations.

By prioritizing traditional co-op gameplay over live-service mechanics, a Fantastic Four game could differentiate itself from its rivals and provide a more concentrated, narrative-driven experience that has been absent in recent times.

When Skydance New Media unveiled the teaser trailer for its upcoming Marvel game last year, it sparked immediate interest among gamers. With its World War Two setting twisting the storyline of familiar heroes, the game promised something intriguing. Despite the limited information available about this game, Skydance might have already stumbled upon the ideal protagonists for a four-player sequel in the form of Marvel's First Family - the Fantastic Four. Boasting a diverse range of powers and an iconic nemesis in Doctor Doom, the Fantastic Four would be the perfect ensemble to lead Skydance's next four-character game.

Not only does the exceptional teamwork and abilities of the four superheroes lend themselves naturally to a cooperative gameplay experience, but the relatively low number of appearances by the Fantastic Four in gaming compared to other Marvel characters presents an opportunity for innovation. Unlike the doomed fate of Marvel's Avengers game, a Fantastic Four game wouldn't have to grapple with preconceived notions shaped by years of movie portrayals. If Skydance's Fantastic Four game embraced traditional, four-player cooperative action without the burden of live-service mechanics, it could truly stand out among its competitors in the superhero gaming space.

The Team’s Low Profile in Other Media Could Be a Fantastic Four Game’s Biggest Strength

Although The Fantastic Four have been engaged in battles with villains in Marvel Comics since 1961, the members of the superpowered team have seldom appeared together in video games. Apart from being the focal point in the 1997 PlayStation beat 'em up Fantastic Four and 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the team members have typically been limited to brief appearances in games such as Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects and the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance series. Consequently, there is an opportunity for a potential Skydance Fantastic Four game to establish its unique identity instead of attempting to recapture some intangible past enchantment.

Skydance has the opportunity to create a truly iconic modern interpretation of Marvel’s First Family, without the pressure of conforming to previous MCU versions. This applies not only to their presence in gaming, but also to the delay of the Fantastic Four MCU reboot. A Skydance co-op title could potentially be released before the franchise's big-screen outings establish a fixed perception of the team's appearance and behavior. With the freedom from living up to MCU comparisons, Skydance has the potential to develop a definitive contemporary rendition of Marvel's First Family. By focusing on fast-paced action gameplay instead of live-service mechanics, Skydance can deliver a unique iteration of the team that sets them apart from other superpowered competitors.

A Fantastic Four Game Free of Live-Service Mechanics Could Stand Out From Its Co-Op Competition

Releasing a Fantastic Four game with a traditional co-op gameplay approach, free from live-service mechanics, could give it a significant advantage over other games in the genre. While co-op games have seen a revival in recent years, many of them have included live-service mechanics. This trend can be observed in high-profile superhero titles like Marvel's Avengers, which ultimately didn't fare well.

In contrast, Rocksteady Studios' upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League seems to heavily rely on live-service elements. This presents an opportunity for a potential Fantastic Four game to offer players a more traditional and focused co-op experience. By embracing a story-based approach instead of repetitive live-service gameplay, the Fantastic Four game could stand out from its DC counterpart and the abundance of live-service titles saturating the PC and console market.

Following the launch of its single-player Marvel game, Skydance New Media should apply the insights gained from that multi-character title to develop a co-op game centered around the Fantastic Four. By doing so, not only would it finally provide Marvel's First Family with the attention and recognition it is owed, but it would also serve as a testament that traditional co-op games still have value in an industry saturated with live-service titles.

Fantastic Four

Created by Jack Kirby, Stan LeeFirst Film Fantastic FourLatest Film Fantastic Four (2025)Upcoming Films Fantastic Four (2025)

Editor's P/S

I am a big fan of the Fantastic Four and I am excited to see them finally get their own video game. I think Skydance New Media has the potential to create a truly unique and memorable game that will do the characters justice.

I appreciate that Skydance is taking a different approach to the game by focusing on traditional co-op gameplay instead of live-service mechanics. I think this will allow the game to stand out from the competition and provide a more focused and narrative-driven experience.

I am also excited to see how Skydance interprets the characters of the Fantastic Four. I think there is a lot of potential to explore their unique personalities and powers in a video game setting. I am confident that Skydance will be able to create a game that is both fun and faithful to the source material.