How Arkane is Shifting Perspectives with Marvel’s Blade

Marvel's Blade marks a major shift in direction for Arkane Lyon, opening up new possibilities for future titles.
How Arkane is Shifting Perspectives with Marvel’s Blade

Highlights

  • Marvel's Blade introduces a new third-person perspective for Arkane, setting it apart from its previous games.
  • The switch to third-person allows for a more detailed portrayal of the main character, offering a fresh and immersive experience for players.
  • The success of Marvel's Blade could influence Arkane's design choices for future games, potentially leading to more diverse and artistically compelling titles.

Arkane has built a strong reputation for its first-person perspective games, but the upcoming Marvel’s Blade is about to shake things up with a shift to a third-person view. While this perspective is nothing new in the gaming industry, it will be a first for Arkane, making it a significant departure from its familiar territory. Previous titles like Dishonored and Deathloop have laid the groundwork for the studio's parkour and hand-oriented mechanics in a first-person setting.

Players have grown accustomed to navigating the game world and engaging in combat with a primary weapon in one hand and a tool or secondary weapon in the other. Marvel’s Blade appears to maintain this dynamic, as seen in the initial teaser and concept art featuring the protagonist wielding a variety of weapons and abilities. The switch to a third-person perspective will provide a fresh and dynamic view of Blade’s actions and abilities.

Marvel’s Blade Will Be Arkane’s First Third-Person Game

Adapting Arkane’s Gameplay to Third-Person Will Be an Interesting Dynamic

The shift to a third-person perspective will allow Arkane to fully showcase the titular character at all times. While the studio has excelled at portraying protagonists through dialogue and hand motions, the switch to third-person will offer a more comprehensive view of Blade's character, including animations and body language.

The concept art for Marvel’s Blade offers a glimpse of the full character model and the game's environment from a new perspective, providing a broader view and enhancing the overall visual experience.

Marvel’s Blade Could Change How Future Arkane Games are Designed

Depending on the reception of Marvel’s Blade, Arkane may explore the possibility of developing future games in third-person. While the studio is recognized for its first-person titles, the success of Marvel’s Blade could pave the way for a new direction in game design, allowing Arkane to further showcase its artistic talents and expand its creative horizons.

While a shift in design philosophy can be a bold move, as evidenced by the transformation of the God of War series, the transition from first-person to third-person in such a short time frame following the release of Deathloop is significant. However, this transition presents an opportunity for Marvel’s Blade to carve out its own unique identity while retaining the distinctive features of an Arkane game. The success of Marvel’s Blade may influence the studio's future projects, potentially shaping the direction of new titles and sequels to existing franchises.