According to Arkane's 2024 financial report, their next AAA project, Marvel's Blade, is expected to be completed by November 2027. The document confirms that production of the game began in December 2024, after the prototype was approved, and that the game has passed an important pre-production stage.
Providing news from the game world, shinobi602 states that, considering the completed pre-production, 2-3 years of active development is a standard time frame for a large project, unless there are unexpected complications. Announced in December 2023, the game is a third-person solo action game about the half-vampire Blade, built on the modified Void Engine previously used in Dishonored 2 and Deathloop.
Details of Marvel's Blade Game and Information About Arkane Studios
Marvel's Blade will take place in Paris, which is besieged by vampires and whose residents are forced to hide at night. The setting of the game aims to add an exciting dimension to the Blade universe with its gothic architecture and atmosphere. Early in-game images and concept designs reveal how Paris' iconic buildings have been transformed into a dark and dangerous atmosphere. Players will search for clues on the city streets during the day and fight vampires at night.
Development Process and Expectations
Although some fans have expressed skepticism about the stated timeframe, Arkane, a studio known for its elaborate game worlds, has traditionally stuck to planned release dates once the pre-production phase is complete. Arkane Studios is known for its immersive sim games and aims to offer players deep storytelling, diverse gameplay styles, and incredibly detailed worlds. This approach is expected to be continued in Marvel's Blade.
Reuse of Void Engine and Improved Graphics
Developing the game with a modified version of the Void Engine used in Dishonored 2 and Deathloop raises expectations in terms of visual quality and game mechanics. The Void Engine is capable of creating complex and detailed environments, as Arkane has proven in its previous games. In Marvel's Blade, the dark streets of Paris and the lairs of vampires will be portrayed even more realistically, thanks to the advanced features of this engine.
Game Mechanics and Storytelling
Blade's half-vampire powers will give players a variety of options for both melee and long-range attacks. Players will fight vampires using Blade's swordsmanship, martial arts, and vampire powers. The story will focus on Blade's efforts to save Paris from vampires, and players will uncover the city's secrets by interacting with various characters throughout the game. Since Arkane Studios is a studio that attaches importance to storytelling, Marvel's Blade is expected to have a deep and impressive story.
Arkane Studios' Past Achievements and Future Projects
Arkane Studios' past success gives hope for Marvel's Blade. Games like the Dishonored series, Prey, and Deathloop have proven the studio's ability to create innovative game mechanics, immersive worlds, and memorable characters. Marvel's Blade will be Arkane Studios' first project in the superhero genre, and the studio is expected to achieve the same success in this field as well. Although there is no information yet about the studio's future projects, it is thought that Marvel's Blade will further increase the studio's reputation and lay the groundwork for new game projects.