EA’s development of the Black Panther game finds itself in a unique position, where little is known about the game or the newly formed Cliffhanger Games studio until more information is released.

Competing with other versions of Black Panther, such as Skydance’s upcoming project, poses a significant challenge for Cliffhanger in crafting a distinct and genuine experience. Marvel is currently outperforming DC in the gaming realm, a trend that’s likely to continue unless DC makes several new announcements. Meanwhile, Marvel has several games in the pipeline that are yet to be officially unveiled or scheduled for release, with some still unnamed. However, the mere knowledge that these games are under development is comforting, particularly as early announcements might draw exceptional talent to their studios. Yet, the most enigmatic of all Marvel games might be the Black Panther game by Cliffhanger Games.

Cliffhanger Games, a new studio under EA, was announced in July 2023, concurrently with the development of a Black Panther game. Similar to EA Motive’s Iron Man game, Cliffhanger only released a promotional image of the game, briefly and vaguely mentioning it as a “single-player action-adventure” title. The fact that Black Panther is getting its standalone game following the character’s MCU success and appearances in recent Marvel ensemble games is thrilling, but the novelty of EA Cliffhanger leaves much to the imagination regarding the game’s potential outcome.

EA Cliffhanger’s Newness Renders Black Panther’s Future Unpredictable.

Developers Behind Marvel’s Blade and Iron Man Set Expectations.

Skydance’s unnamed WW2 Marvel game, EA Motive’s Iron Man game, and Arkane’s Marvel’s Blade share one thing in common: they all stem from developers whose past work will likely influence their Marvel games’ outcome, at least in terms of artistic direction. This is somewhat more uncertain for Skydance, being technically a new studio, but its teaser hinted at a realistic historical setting, and Amy Hennig’s leadership suggests a cinematic action experience akin to Uncharted.

The direction of EA’s Iron Man game is open to various possibilities. However, Motive’s success in rendering the Dead Space remake with exceptional hyperrealism and intricate environmental details might set the tone for its approach to Iron Man. Marvel’s Blade, despite being the most recently announced Marvel game, is a step ahead, having already released concept art mirroring its teaser, categorizing it into Arkane’s unique stylistic legacy.

The Outcome of EA Cliffhanger’s Black Panther Remains an Open Question.

Cliffhanger Games is an enigma in itself. Choosing Black Panther as their Marvel icon is both a boon and a challenge, as the character has seen several remarkable portrayals in recent media, making it tough to stand out, particularly against Skydance’s ensemble game featuring Black Panther and Wakanda.

While Cliffhanger may not have to contend with Skydance’s 1940s setting, staying true to its unique storyline and iconography will be daunting. Opting for another hyperrealistic rendition might seem unoriginal, and Cliffhanger’s artistic style remains a mystery. It would have been implausible for Arkane to shift from cartoonish cel-shading to realism for Marvel’s Blade; however, its transition to a third-person perspective is indeed unprecedented.

Hence, the intrigue surrounding what Cliffhanger can bring to the table will persist until some form of revelation, be it concept art like Marvel’s Blade or a trailer nearer to release. For now, Cliffhanger’s biggest strength and weakness is the absence of a prior game catalog, and the eventual form of its Black Panther game will reflect the studio’s potential.

Source: GameRant