The John Wick universe is about to make the final leap into the world of video games with the announcement of a new AAA title for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PC, still without an official name, presented during the latest edition of State of Play.Saber Interactive, in direct collaboration with Lionsgate, Chad Stahelski (franchise director) and Keanu Reeves, is developing a single-player adventure with an original narrative, set years before the legendary Impossible Task.
One of the points highlighted by those responsible for the project is the close collaboration between the video game team and the original creators of the cinematographic saga.Jenefer Brown, president of global products and experiences at Lionsgate, highlighted the goal of reproducing the action and realism of cinema on the console: “We are collaborating closely with the dedicated team at Saber Interactive to develop a game that captures the unmatched action, the signature fight choreography and the authenticity of the films.”
For his part, Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, mentioned the honor of working side by side with Chad, Keanu and the Lionsgate team in a true collaboration to bring the world of Wick to life in a AAA video game. These statements contrast with what happened in previous adaptations of film franchises to video games, which have frequently been criticized for their lack of fidelity and for leaving aside the creative participation of the original teams.
The main aspect that differentiates the John Wick saga is the particular combination of firearms and martial arts skills known as gun-fu.For the video game, a combat system is being created from scratch that seeks to replicate the dynamics of the choreographies filmed by Chad Stahelski and his team.The game’s director, Jesús Iglesias, highlighted that the fighting style will feel like an action scene taken directly from the movies.
With the direct advice of Stahelski and the participation of Keanu Reeves, who will lend his image and voice to the character in the video game, the production aims to offer realism and visual spectacularity.This approach aims to meet the expectations of an audience accustomed to the high standards of films and series related to the John Wick universe.
John Wick’s move to digital represents opportunities and challenges.On the one hand, the promise of an immersive gaming experience could attract both traditional action video game fans and film fans interested in a new form of interaction.Currently, the John Wick franchise has grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide and has expanded its presence with television series and spin-off projects, demonstrating sustained expansion in various formats.
However, the history of failed adaptations of other sagas generates some skepticism among some of the public.Saber Interactive, recognized for its experience in the development of action titles, must face the challenge of transferring the stylistic and emotional sophistication of the original material to the interactive medium, without losing narrative depth or quality in gameplay.For now, expectations are high and fans await upcoming announcements, hoping that justice will finally be done to the Baba Yaga universe on both consoles and PC.
