Arkane Lyon, the talented team behind the highly praised DEATHLOOP and Dishonored series, is now working on a brand-new project. This time, they are diving into the world of comic book heroes with a new mature, single-player, third-person game centered around the iconic character Blade.
No release window was given and surprisingly Microsoft has yet to confirm which platforms Blade will release on. While it’s assumed that Bethesda titles will only be available on Xbox consoles and PC, as well as day one on Game Pass. Xbox head, Phil Spencer has often stated that releasing titles on other (competing) platforms will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Whether or not this is the case here remains to be seen. However, Blade is owned by Disney and unlike Spider-man, where Sony controls the movie rights which affords them some leverage over Marvel with the character, Microsoft is simply licensing the I.P. and Disney may want this to go wider and may have only granted Microsoft limited exclusivity for an Xbox release … or not.
The game is still very early in development and perhaps Microsoft simply didn’t want to go there just yet. This is not uncharted territory for Microsoft as we learned during the Activision/Blizzard FTC hearing when Bethesda’s former head of global publishing (Pete Hines) confirmed that Disney’s Indiana Jones license will be exclusive to Xbox and PC.
“In honor of Blade’s 50th anniversary, we have found the perfect match for the Daywalker in Arkane Lyon, a studio of uncompromising artists who continually push the boundaries of game design and innovation,” said Bill Rosemann, VP and Creative Director of Marvel Games. “In addition to their award-winning talent, it’s their personal passion and bold vision for our half-human, half-vampire iconoclast that makes this collaboration a perfect fit.”
Arkane Lyon have just begun development on the game which will feature an original story with the studio’s signature immersive gameplay and world-class narrative.
“As a kid of mixed origins, I felt a special connection to Blade – a hero with a dual heritage himself,” said Dinga Bakaba, Game Director, Arkane Lyon. “The opportunity to put our spin on this character is a dream of mine and a challenge that our team embraces with a passion. We couldn’t be happier to put players in Blade’s boots, as he becomes the champion of my hometown of Paris, one stake at a time.”
Marvel’s Blade game will take players to a quarantined section of Paris in the middle of a supernatural emergency. Vampires have emerged, terrorizing the city of lights and forcing Parisians to shelter inside their homes at night to wait for sunrise.
“From his trench coat to his iconic sunglasses, Blade is a slick, stylish, and driven character,” said Sebastien Mitton, Co-Creative and Art Director, Arkane Lyon. “This project is the perfect opportunity to push Arkane’s art style into an even more modern and bold territory. The essence of our work lives at the junction of impactful ideas and innovative know-how.”
