Video Game Franchises
Ongoing coverage on Video Game Franchises.
Latest coverage
Shack Chat: What gaming series do you want to see get a racing game?
Shacknews staff members discuss which gaming series they would like to see adapted into a racing game. Suggestions range from PlayStation's first-party characters and Hollow Knight to F-ZERO, Destiny's Sparrow Racing League, Shovel Knight, Halo, Pokemon, and The Legend of Zelda.
Arc Raiders och The Finals ska bli till film och tv-serie
Embark Studios, the developer behind Arc Raiders and The Finals, has partnered with Chernin Entertainment (The North Road Company) to adapt both game franchises into film and television series. Chernin Entertainment, known for producing the Backrooms film, secured the rights after a competitive bidding process. Both Embark Studios and Chernin Entertainment will collaborate closely to ensure the creative vision of the games is maintained in the new media formats.
Beloved PS2-era PlayStation Exclusive Action Series Set to Return – Report
A rumor suggests that Sony is considering reviving the PlayStation exclusive action series Sly Cooper, which has been dormant since 2013. While Sucker Punch Productions is unlikely to develop the next entry, Sony is reportedly open to licensing agreements and pitches for its dormant franchises.
Love 'em or hate 'em, if it weren't for the Sonic the Hedgehog films, the blue blur might have been canned entirely, so says series boss Takashi Iizuka
Sonic series boss Takashi Iizuka revealed that the franchise was once at risk of cancellation during its less successful periods. He credits the success of the first Sonic the Hedgehog film for revitalizing the series and ensuring its continuation. Iizuka also indicated plans for consistent annual media releases, including games and movies, with a greater emphasis on story.
We're thinking about X-Men videogames wrong
This article argues that the current approach to X-Men video games is misguided, suggesting a need for a fresh perspective on how to adapt the franchise. It touches upon the author's extensive experience writing about games and their expertise in various titles.
The next Smash Bros. should add these new stages
This article discusses potential new stages for the next Super Smash Bros. game, suggesting ideas inspired by various Nintendo franchises. It proposes stages based on Bowser's Castle, Area Zero from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the Stormwind Ark from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Alivel Mall from Kirby and the Forgotten Land, among others.
Crazy Taxi Gets Crazier With Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Writers For New Movie
Netflix and Sega have partnered to produce a live-action Crazy Taxi movie set to release in 2027, with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand writing the screenplay. Neal H. Moritz and Toru Nakahara are producing the film, which aims to capture the spirit of the arcade racing game. This announcement coincides with news of a new Crazy Taxi game and a Sonic animated series.
Beloved Fantasy PlayStation Game’s Movie Gets Exciting Rumor
A new rumor suggests that a movie adaptation of the PlayStation franchise Jak & Daxter is still in development, according to insider Daniel Richtman. Director Ruben Fleischer had previously confirmed his involvement in the project, which follows the success of the Uncharted film.
Naughty Dog is ‘not done with The Last of Us,’ says Neil Druckmann
Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann confirmed that the studio is working on multiple new projects within The Last of Us universe, though he did not specify if The Last of Us Part 3 is among them. The studio is also developing its next original title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophecy, for PlayStation 5.
Rumor: Xbox is considering TV adaptations of World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, and more
Xbox is reportedly in talks with Netflix, Paramount, and Universal to develop TV adaptations for several Microsoft-owned video game franchises, including Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. A new Halo adaptation is also being discussed, following the success of the recent Fallout series.
A Kingdom Hearts Movie? It’s Not Ruled Out, Disney Exec Says
Disney executive Jared Bush stated that a Kingdom Hearts movie is not impossible, following the success of the franchise and news of a Disney+ TV show. The Kingdom Hearts series has generated over $1 billion in sales for Disney. Additionally, Kingdom Hearts 4 was confirmed for a late 2027 release, featuring Donald Duck and characters from Disney's Coco.
Kingdom Hearts is One of Nine $1 Billion Franchises Under Disney
Disney has revealed that the Kingdom Hearts franchise is one of nine under its Games Group portfolio valued at over $1 billion. EVP Sean Shoptaw highlighted the importance of games in Disney's future strategy, mentioning successful partnerships with Epic Games and upcoming titles like Marvel's Wolverine. The company is preparing for a D23 panel on Kingdom Hearts, potentially offering more details on Kingdom Hearts 4, which is slated for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Who Should Lead Metal Gear Solid 6? The Fandom Can’t Agree
Fans are debating who should lead a potential Metal Gear Solid 6, as the franchise has featured multiple protagonists like Solid Snake, Big Boss, Raiden, and Venom Snake. Hideo Kojima's departure from Konami in 2015 complicates discussions, with some fans advocating for a reboot or a new protagonist like Meryl Silverburgh, while others believe the series should rest.
Resident Evil beats Final Fantasy to become the best-selling Japanese game series not published by Nintendo, with…
The Resident Evil series has surpassed Final Fantasy to become the best-selling Japanese game franchise not published by Nintendo, with over 213 million copies sold. Resident Evil 2's 2019 remake is now the series' best-selling individual title with 19.75 million units sold, overtaking Resident Evil 5. Resident Evil 4 remake is also performing strongly, indicating continued success for the horror franchise.
Sonic: An Uncompromising Light in the Darkness
The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has produced many iconic console games across different eras, but it has also released some less successful titles. This discussion touches upon the varied quality of games within the long-running series.
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner can't remember why he green-lit Kingdom Hearts
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner admitted he cannot recall why he approved the pitch for the Kingdom Hearts video game series. Eisner, now an investor in Delphi Interactive, was questioned about the series' origins after a panel in New York. An anecdote from former Disney Japan employee Shuji Utsumi detailed the experimental nature of the pitch and the groundwork required for its approval.
Further proving Kingdom Hearts' existence is a miracle, ex-Disney CEO says he can't even remember why he greenlit the JRPG in the first place
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner admitted he barely remembers greenlighting the Kingdom Hearts franchise and cannot recall his specific reasons for approving the Square Enix collaboration. Despite Eisner's hazy recollection, the series has spanned over two decades and is set to continue with Kingdom Hearts 4.
Bethesda and Obsidian working on new Fallout games and remasters of Fallout 3 & New Vegas confirmed
Bethesda has announced that Fallout 5 is in development, and Obsidian Entertainment is working on a new Fallout experience. Additionally, both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas will receive remasters. This news comes as part of an update on the future of the Fallout franchise.
We asked Xbox exec Matt Booty about legacy IP like Banjo-Kazooie: "There's options to do all kinds of things, and we're certainly looking at those all the time"
Xbox executive Matt Booty addressed the possibility of reviving legacy franchises like Banjo-Kazooie, stating that Xbox is always exploring options for its intellectual property. While not confirming any new titles, Booty indicated that the company is open to working with internal and external studios on its back catalog, similar to the upcoming Spyro: A Realm Beyond.
Deus Ex, Saints Row and TimeSplitters might be lent out to external partners, Embracer say, possibly paving the way for new entries
Embracer Group is exploring licensing out major IPs like Deus Ex, Saints Row, and TimeSplitters to external partners, potentially leading to new game entries or media adaptations. This strategy is part of the company's recent corporate restructuring into two main entities, Embracer and Fellowship Entertainment, with CEO Lars Wingefors highlighting the potential for these well-known franchises.
