When James Gunn formally took over as co-CEO of DC Studios, he rapidly started working clearing home and organising his new DCU. Many of the DCEU actors have been minimize, and it’s wanting just like the DCU will likely be a reboot that hopefully does the cinematic universe proper this time. Whereas the official plans for the universe have but to be revealed, it feels like Gunn could need to try to attach video video games to the rising DCU, and this might result in a reasonably attention-grabbing universe.
DC has tried to construct its personal model of the MCU for years now, and James Gunn’s DCU could lastly be the cinematic universe the studio has wished. Including DC video games to the combination might assist the studio inform very completely different tales from the MCU, and would actually assist the universe set itself aside from Marvel Studios’ franchise. This may very well be nice information for DC followers, but it surely may be unhealthy information for DC video games. Whereas it might assist bolster the DCU in new methods, there’s a likelihood that connecting DC video games to the DCU could stifle the artistic potential of online game builders in the long term.
DCU Video Video games are an Thrilling Uncharted Territory
If the DCU actually does join video video games to it then that will result in a brand new type of cinematic universe. Marvel popularized the cinematic universe mannequin with the very fashionable and profitable MCU, however that universe has largely stayed inside the framework of films and TV. DC tried to copy that with its DCEU, however that grew to become a disorganized mess by the top of its tenure. The DCU will try to proper the ship and seize the success of the MCU once more, and including video video games to the combination might assist it blaze its personal path.
There was no official announcement of any DCU video video games, however James Gunn did verify that DC Studios is wanting into it by way of Twitter. These video games might merely be fast little tie-in adventures, or they may very well be giant comedian guide adventures just like the Batman: Arkham sequence. No matter type they take, their addition might result in a novel universe that spans a number of visible mediums, and it may very well be a deal with for DC followers.
DCU video games would permit DC to completely flesh out its universe of characters in new methods and would let followers play an energetic half within the franchise’s story. It might be a novel sort of cinematic universe, and video video games might result in a brand-new degree of storytelling potential for the DCU. Relying upon the success, it might even result in extra franchises taking notes from the DCU fairly than from the MCU. Whereas DC followers must wait to study extra, the idea is fascinating and could also be precisely what DC wants proper now.
Connecting DC Video games to the DCU May Restrict Their Potential
Whereas the addition of video games to the DCU may very well be cool, it might additionally stifle the creativity of the video video games. Builders could not have the ability to discover their very own model of comedian guide characters like Rocksteady did with the Arkham sequence. As a substitute, the builders must keep inside the confines of a pre-established franchise. They might not exit of their method to inform their very own story or use the characters that they need, however they must comply with the foundations laid out by the DCU.
DC Studios shouldn’t be against exploring Elseworld tasks as seen with Matt Reeves’ Batman sequence, and DC video games could comply with go well with. Not each sport could also be part of the DCU, and that will permit distinctive DC tales like Arkham to proceed. Nonetheless, if the DCU is successful then DC video games will probably need to put extra assets into constructing out that franchise fairly than disconnected ones. This might result in much less distinctive worlds and experiences, and the video games could lose what made them really feel particular.
DC video games, and superhero video games typically, have all the time explored new areas of their respective superhero universes and instructed new tales that the movies haven’t. Rocksteady crafted a really attention-grabbing Batman-centric story with its Arkham sequence, Traveller’s Tales received to play with a roster of villains in LEGO DC Tremendous-Villains, Telltale Video games instructed its personal Batman story in Batman: The Telltale Collection, and NetherRealm Studios has explored a reasonably attention-grabbing universe with its Injustice sequence. None of those video games had been tied down by what got here earlier than, and the builders might inform the tales that they wished to inform. If these builders needed to comply with the DCU then they’d not have been in a position to craft distinctive video games, and DC followers would have by no means been in a position to expertise these iconic tales.
Including video games to the DCU might additionally result in gamers simply taking part in them as a result of they should fairly than as a result of they need to. A standard critique of the MCU is that there’s simply an excessive amount of content material, and the connectivity of it implies that followers have to look at each challenge in the event that they need to sustain. This could make some followers really feel like it’s extra of a chore fairly than an fulfilling expertise, and the DCU video games have a excessive likelihood of doing the identical. If they’re integral to the plot of the franchise then gamers could play them out of necessity, and that might give gamers franchise fatigue.
DCU video games aren’t a positive factor till one is formally introduced, however DC Studios is desirous about exploring the idea. Whereas there are nonetheless loads of DC video games within the works together with Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Monolith’s Surprise Lady, the DCU could change DC’s strategy to video games going ahead. The DCU video games might all be nice experiences, however there may be additionally an opportunity that it prevents builders from telling the tales they need to inform. The DC video games panorama could quickly change drastically, however DC followers will simply have to attend till James Gunn is able to formally unveil his grand plans.