Unveiling the Epic Future of Marvel Games with EA's Black Panther

Highlights

Marvel is capitalizing on the success of Black Panther by developing two games featuring the character, which could set a precedent for future Marvel games.

The two games, created by Skydance and EA, will each have their own distinct features and set themselves apart. Marvel's decision to launch multiple games showcasing the same superhero signifies a new era for superhero video games, allowing different developers and publishers to develop their own interpretations of beloved characters.

Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye were not initially considered top-tier Marvel heroes in the early 2000s, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe successfully elevated these characters, along with many others, to the S-list of Marvel heroes. Among these characters, Black Panther gained immediate fame after his appearance in Captain America: Civil War and further established his popularity with his own movie in 2018.

Given the success of Black Panther, it comes as no surprise that Marvel wants to maximize his potential in the gaming industry. Currently, Marvel has two games featuring Black Panther in development. If both games prove to be successful, it could potentially set a noteworthy precedent for future Marvel games.

The Same Heroes Might Start Appearing Across Multiple Marvel Games

Set during World War 2, Skydance's upcoming Marvel game allows players to control four playable characters. These include a member of the Howling Commandos, the Wakandan Spy Network, Captain America, and even Black Panther's grandfather, Azzuri. While Black Panther is not the sole playable character, his role in the game's story is expected to be significant, as well as the inclusion of Wakanda itself. Undoubtedly, the ability to play as Black Panther will be a major selling point in the game's marketing campaign.

Recently announced, EA is also developing their own Black Panther game. Created by the new studio, Cliffhanger Games, EA's version will be an open-world, third-person game where players solely embody the Black Panther, protecting Wakanda, their home city. Despite their distinct features, both games offer their own unique selling points and are expected to differentiate themselves. It is worth noting the interesting timing of these two AAA titles featuring Black Panther, hinting at exciting possibilities for the future.

The presence of these two Black Panther games suggests that Marvel is unafraid to fully invest in its most popular heroes. By producing multiple games simultaneously centered around them, Marvel demonstrates its confidence in their potential success. If these two games achieve individual success without overshadowing each other, it could mark the beginning of a new era for superhero video games. This era could see the release of multiple games featuring the same hero at the same time, but developed and published by different entities, each offering a unique twist.

While Spider-Man has made appearances in various video games in recent years, such as Midnight Suns, Marvel's Avengers, and even Fortnite, he has not yet been the main character in any of them. However, this may be on the brink of change. Marvel appears to be eager to showcase its most iconic heroes, and while it would be exciting to see characters like Spider-Man, Black Panther, and the Avengers in more titles, Marvel must ensure that each game stands out with its own distinctiveness. For example, if Insomniac continues to create third-person open-world Spider-Man games, Marvel cannot release a similar title soon after. Instead, Marvel could explore the idea of a multiplayer game set in the Spider-Verse. If this is indeed their plan, the future looks promising for Marvel's prominent characters in the realm of video games.

Marvel's Black Panther is currently in development.