In the high-stakes market that is video game development, few stories are as compelling as the birth of a franchise. But what happens when that birth is fraught with doubt, skepticism, and the looming specter of failure? Enter Amy Hennig, the visionary behind the Uncharted series, who found herself in exactly that position during the early days of Nathan Drake’s adventures.

Not the Ashen God the studio’s higher-ups were hoping for. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog

As we look back on the franchise that redefined action-adventure gaming, it’s hard to imagine a time when Uncharted wasn’t a household name. Yet, as Hennig once revealed in a candid interview, the road to success was anything but smooth.

The Risk of Uncharted Waters at the Time

In a revealing interview with Polygon, Amy Hennig shed light on the tumultuous early days of Uncharted‘s development. The challenges she faced...

When people look back on the Uncharted series for all that it accomplished, they tend to mention its storytelling and unforgettable characters, something that kept improving with each entry in the series.

Nate and Elena trying to escape Hidden island on a Jet Ski – Image Credit: Naughty Dog.

But what if we told you that the story side of things might never have existed in the way it currently does had Amy Hennig, the lead writer for the first three games, simply pursued her career as she had planned?

Uncharted’s Lead Writer Didn’t Initially Wish to Be a Part of the Gaming Industry Nate in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception – Image Credit: Naughty Dog.

The thing is, Amy’s first love wasn’t gaming but films. Growing up, she always dreamed of making movies and even enrolled in a film school to pursue this dream.

Unfortunately, reality hit...

Amy Hennig is at the helm of Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, a new WWII-era game starring Black Panther and Captain America. The gaming industry icon is known for creating the acclaimed Uncharted series and should bring a familiar blend of cinematic storytelling and character-driven action to this project.

Amy Hennig being at the helm is only good news for the game. | Image Credit: Skydance Interactive

The release and potential success of this upcoming title will be a bittersweet reminder of Project Ragtag, the Star Wars game that Hennig was forced to abandon. According to some of the project’s developers, it could have been the “best Star Wars game ever made.”

A Spin On a Star Wars Game Done By Amy Hennig Could’ve Been a Game Changer

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, developed by Skydance New Media, pairs Captain America with Black Panther in a World War II setting.

Amy Hennig is a well-known name in the gaming industry. She has worked on various popular projects, but undoubtedly, her best and most popular creation was the Uncharted series. Under Visceral Games, Hennig was working on Project Ragtag, a game set in the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, Visceral Games was shut down, and we never got more of Project Ragtag.

Amy Hennig laid down the foundation of the Uncharted series with Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (Image via Naughty Dog)

In one of her past interviews, Hennig explained how creating a game based on the Star Wars story was very similar to Uncharted. However, she took a different approach to this one thing that would’ve stirred some debates.

Amy Hennig Decided To Cut Some Villains From Her Star Wars Game Amy Hennig believed that Star Wars and Uncharted shared the same genre (Image via Naughty Dog)

In 2019, Amy Hennig appeared for an interview with Eurogamer.

In the fast-paced world of video game development, it’s easy to forget that the classics we hold dear might not have seen the light of day in today’s market. Case in point: Uncharted, the beloved action-adventure series that put Naughty Dog on the map.

But according to Amy Hennig, the mastermind behind the franchise, pitching a game like Uncharted today would be a tough sell.

Amy Hennig, creator of the Uncharted franchise. | Image Credit: @Sonaratv/Wikimedia Commons

Hennig, who served as the creative director and writer for the first three Uncharted games before her controversial departure from Naughty Dog in 2014, shared some eye-opening insights in a 2019 interview. While her comments may not be recent, they continue to ring true for the gaming industry today.

The Uncharted Formula: A Relic of the Past?

Picture this: you’re a game developer pitching a “finite eight-ish-hour experience” with no multiplayer, no live service elements,...

Naughty Dog is known for its linear, story-driven games like The Last of Us and Uncharted. But the studio is reportedly planning a bold change in its next game. According to recent sources, the studio’s upcoming project will embrace more “player freedom,” a concept previously unexplored in Naughty Dog’s repertoire.

Neil Druckmann. | Image Credit: Gage Skidmore/Cc By-sa 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

This change is intriguing, as studio co-president Neil Druckmann has previously expressed admiration for titles like Elden Ring. Naughty Dog’s next game might be one that allows players to explore and uncover stories at their own pace. Whether it’s good is yet to be seen but Naughty Dog has the track record for it.

Naughty Dog Might Be Cooking Up a Miyazaki-like Masterpiece

In a recent MinnMax podcast episode, Ben Hanson, founder of MinnMax, shared some crumbs from an insider who worked on the upcoming Naughty Dog project.

Neil Druckmann, the mastermind behind Naughty Dog’s critically acclaimed hits like Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us series, has been tight-lipped about the studio’s next project. But a recent tidbit from a well-informed source has set gaming communities abuzz with speculation.

Could Druckmann be taking a page out of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s playbook, focusing on “player freedom” in his upcoming game?

The highly revered mastermind of game design. | Image Credit: The Game Awards/YouTube

The tantalizing hint comes from Ben Hanson, founder of the MinnMax Show, who recently shared some intriguing details about Naughty Dog’s unannounced project. According to Hanson, a person “very in the know” who worked on the game had some choice words about what fans can expect.

A “Game-Changer” for Naughty Dog?

In the latest episode of the MinnMax Show, Hanson relayed the insider’s message, saying:

I heard from somebody very in the...

As the dust settles on the recent announcement that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is swinging its way to PC in January 2025, PlayStation fans are left with a bittersweet taste in their mouths. While it’s great to see the critically acclaimed title reach a wider audience, the fact that it’s shedding its PS5 exclusivity just over a year after release has some loyalists feeling betrayed.

PlayStation fans have received two bitter announcements in quick succession. | Image Credit: Insomniac Games

But the real kicker? Insomniac has confirmed that they have no “additional story content planned for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.” So much for hoping for a meaty post-release expansion to address the game’s relatively short campaign length.

The Silver Lining: Marvel’s Wolverine

But fear not, true believers! There’s a silver lining to this cloud of disappointment, and it comes in the form of adamantium claws. With Spider-Man 2 officially wrapped,...

What many don’t realize is that twenty one years ago, in 2003, we got a hidden gem that unofficially is the best Uncharted movie so far and it is called, The Rundown! Video game adaptations often get a skeptical eye, and unfortunately, the official Uncharted film didn’t do much to change that perception.

Dwayne Johnson in The Rundown | Credits: Universal Pictures

This left a lot of people going back to rediscover The Rundown, the unofficial adaptation that actually did justice to the game, and it came out even before the game itself!

Dwayne Johnson Gave Us the Best Uncharted Movie in 2003!

So, how similar is The Rundown to Uncharted? Let’s break it down! The Uncharted video games definitely take a page from the Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider playbook. With its gut-punching action, strong and complex characters, and witty one-liners, one can easily argue that The Rundown likely inspired Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

The Uncharted series stands as a landmark in gaming and is known for its rich storytelling, cinematic visuals, and compelling characters. Behind this beloved franchise was Amy Hennig, a visionary writer and director who played a crucial role in shaping Nathan Drake’s adventures. Hennig’s work on the Uncharted titles set a high standard for narrative in video games.

North was stunned by the departure of Hennig as they were already seven months in development. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog

However, the development of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End took an unexpected turn in 2014 when Hennig departed from Naughty Dog. Nolan North, the iconic voice behind Nathan Drake, was at the center of this turmoil. In a candid interview, he shared his thoughts on Hennig’s departure and the changes that reshaped the final installment of the series.

A Dramatic Shift in Development of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Amy Hennig,...

In the world of video games, few titles have achieved the same level of acclaim and emotional connection as The Last of Us. The game and the TV series captured the hearts of the fans with its immersive narrative and memorable characters. However, not many fans know that at the heart of this masterpiece lies a narrative inspired by a cinematic gem: Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men.

Druckmann took a lot of inspiration from a film when developing the game. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog

Neil Druckmann, the creative force behind Naughty Dog and the mind behind The Last of Us, has openly credited this film in an interview where he shed some light on the development process of the game. He shared that the film had a significant influence in shaping the game’s storytelling and emotional depth that fans have come to love.

Children of Men‘s Influence...

In the high-stakes world of video game development, few stories have sparked as much controversy and speculation as the departure of Amy Hennig from Naughty Dog in 2014. The acclaimed writer and director, known for her work on the Uncharted series, left the studio under mysterious circumstances, leading to a whirlwind of rumors and accusations.

Amy Hennig, creator of the Uncharted franchise. | Image Credit: @Sonaratv/Wikimedia Commons

At the center of this storm stood Neil Druckmann, fresh off the success of The Last of Us, and suddenly thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. But what really happened behind the closed doors of one of gaming’s most prestigious studios? And how did this incident spark a wave of unjustifiable hate that continues to this day?

The Uncharted Territory of Studio Politics To say the studio has had its “fair” share of controversy is an understatement. | Image Credit: Naughty...

In the world of Aaa game development, the pressure to deliver blockbuster titles often comes at a high personal cost. Amy Hennig, a veteran game director and writer, provided valuable insight into the unsustainable work culture in the industry during an eye-opening interview in 2016. She is known for her influential roles at Crystal Dynamics and Naughty Dog.

The game was first developed under Hennig but later she was replaced by Neil Druckmann. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog

Even her departure from Naughty Dog sparked intense discussion in the industry. The main reason behind the valuable influence on the Uncharted series for over a decade, including her hard work on the fourth installment Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, for two years before being replaced by Neil Druckmann. After leaving the studio, she shared her experiences and raised various critical questions about the ethics surrounding Aaa game development.

Amy Hennig Showing the...

PlayStation has been a titan in gaming since it first burst into the scene. Since then, it has done more than be a foundation for some fun titles: it’s hosted some of the most influential games ever created.

As some of the best PlayStation games, they didn’t just sell well or get reviews, but they influenced how we think about gaming as a storytelling medium and as a form of media.

They had a hand in changing the reputation of video games across the entire entertainment industry, whether through their gameplay, narrative, or visuals. Let’s dive into this list of nine current and previous PlayStation exclusives that have left an irreplaceable mark on the gaming world.

9) Gran Turismo The racing game that defined all other racing games. | Credit: suddnstar YouTube

Kazunori Yamauchi’s Gran Turismo (1997) for the original PlayStation was just a niche dream project that spawned...

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver holds a special place in the hearts of long-time fans who have patiently waited for a revival of the series. Fans expected some form of announcement at Gamescom 2024 but there was none.

The absence of any news regarding a remaster or remake has left them vocal and frustrated. The fan interest in remasters of the original games is at its peak. Especially after recent teases and leaks suggested a potential remaster of the original and its sequel.

It’s Been So Long Since Soul Reaver And Fans Are Still Hyped For a Remaster

The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver games have had a dedicated fanbase since their release in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The anticipation for a remaster has been building for years. But recently in July 2024, eagle-eyed fans at San Diego Comic-Con spotted branding for some potential remasters at a Dark Horse Comics booth.

There are few things in the gaming world more heart-wrenching than hearing that a game you’re dying to play has been snatched away before it ever sees the light of day.

One of the most painful examples is Star Wars 1313, a game that promised much but was tragically canceled before we could even get a taste. It isn’t the only game that left a void in our hearts, as plenty still haunt us with what could have been.

Whether it was the thrill of hunting bounties in the depths of Coruscant or battling massive dragons, each of these games had potential and was eagerly anticipated by tons of fans.

Let’s take a painful walk down memory lane and revisit five canceled video games we still wish made it to their release date.

5) Star Wars 1313

This game still hurts to think about. Unveiled at E3 2012, it was an...

The video game industry is never static. You might expect names like Hidetaka Miyazaki to pop up when talking about a list of some of the most influential figures in this business, but they’re not the first to do so.

Still, there’s no doubt their contribution to the industry is just as important as those who came before, like Sid Meier and Shigeru Miyamoto. While the old creators laid the foundation, new ones have helped elevate the medium into what it is today.

From the creators of dark, challenging worlds to the visionaries who’ve pushed the boundaries of narrative and mechanics, here’s a list of five of the most impactful personalities in gaming in recent times.

5) Scott Cawthon Scott Cawthon is best known as the creator of Five Nights at Freddy’s. Image Credit: Steam

Scott Cawthon is the mastermind behind one of the most surprising and...

When Skydance Media and Paramount Global executives outlined their plans for the merged company to investors on July 8, they showed a series of slides. One of them highlighted Skydance’s story and was entitled “Animation, Sports and Games Divisions Drive Growth.”

In fact, those are three key areas that management also sees as core upside opportunities for the combined company. After all, Skydance Games will add a key entertainment growth area to the Paramount story, while the merged firm’s scale in animation and sports will be boosted.

Of course, there are the plans for $2 billion in cost savings, the potential to benefit from a reworked streaming strategy (with the expectation of a partnership for Paramount+), and the increased focus on being a creator-friendly entertainment juggernaut.

But below, The Hollywood Reporter is taking a closer look at the three businesses of gaming, animation and sports and why they are particularly...

Marvel Rivals is an upcoming game, inspired by the competitive nature of Overwatch, and features a plethora of Marvel heroes and villains. NetEase has been working day and night ever since the existence of the game leaked days prior, and it dropped an official teaser image that featured obscure heroes from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse.

While not the full lineup, there are a significant number of famous heroes and heroines set to appear in Marvel Rivals.

Into The Spider-Verse Heroine Will Appear In Marvel Rivals

Peni Parker is the local spider of Earth-14512 and has appeared in both Spider-Verse movies.

Peni Parker appeared in both Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse films in a supporting role, and has been reduced to a background character with a short cameo and one line in the sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, but NetEase is giving her due in their game. This...

Marvel has never left the public eye due to the success and fame of their cinematic universe, which generated countless more spinoff titles and installments that spanned for almost two decades and spawned millions of fans. Originally based on comic books, the heroes of Marvel have made their way into other media like gaming, and NetEase is planning something risky.

Competitive gaming has taken the world by storm, and almost every major company has dipped their toes and developed their own take on the battle royale genre. Marvel Rivals is rumored to be an upcoming game by NetEase that is in the same vein as Overwatch and features a plethora of heroes from the history of Marvel.

Overwatch Serves as the Inspiration for NetEase’s Marvel Rivals Overwatch is a free-to-play multiplayer first-person shooter developed by Blizzard Entertainment.

The multiplayer title served as the inspiration for NetEase’s latest title...

Recently, Marvel made one of the most surprising announcements of 2024, and no, this was not an announcement for a new move but a brand-new gameplay trailer for a video game. This title is called Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, and it is being helmed by none other than Amy Hennig, the same person behind the original Uncharted trilogy of games.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is a brand-new action-adventure title set in the World War II era. It would feature the likes of Captain America and Black Panther. It is being developed by Skydance New Media, and its visuals are just mind-blowing. This is no surprise, given the fact that this game is actually built on Unreal Engine 5. While the game has only been announced recently, fans have already started comparing it with some other forms of media.

Fans can’t help but compare Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra with a superhit MCU movie.

A couple of days ago, the Gdc (Game Developers Conference) ended with a lot of new games and updates regarding the videogame industry. Among the most important announcements and presentations, the State of Unreal (Engine) itself stood out.

The Unreal Engine from Epic Games introduced its new 5.4 update with a lot of new features. With the reveal of Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra in action, the State of Unreal conference confirmed that all cinematic elements of this title were rendered in real-time, giving a glimpse of the power that Unreal Engine 5 has for future updates and games.

Unreal Engine 5 in the State of Unreal was the Protagonist of the Gdc MetaHuman technology can now be added to Fortnite. This was revealed at the State of Unreal 2024 at the Gdc.

Epic Games is really taking advantage of all the perks that Unreal Engine 5 has. Thanks to things like the MetaHuman Npc generator,...

Skydance New Media’s World War II Marvel game has finally got a title: Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. Not only that, it has also got a release window and a first trailer. The game is based on the Marvel superhero characters, Captain America, Black Panther, and two other characters.

The characters of Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra

Skydance and Marvel Games announced the game back in 2021 (via Deadline) and officially teased in 2022 (via Game Informer). The trailer of the game is rather promising as it sees Captain America and Black Panther in a face-off. This is not the first time the two characters have shared the screen in the Marvel Universe, but this is certainly the first time that they will come together like this.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra Will See Captain America and Black Panther in a Face-Off

Captain America and Black Panther in a face-off in...

The world of Marvel video games just received a surprise announcement at this year’s Gdc (Game Developers Conference) when Skydance New Media unveiled the first look at Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra at the Epic Games panel.

The game is said to be an action-adventure game that is inspired by the 2010 limited series Captain America/Black Panther: Flags of our Fathers. Players will be able to take control of four playable characters, each with a different gameplay style, as two opposing sides must work together to battle the threat that is Hydra.

The game’s official description states: “In the chaos of war, worlds collide. Captain America and Azzuri, the Black Panther of the 1940s, must overcome their differences and form an uneasy alliance to confront their common enemy. Fighting alongside Gabriel Jones of the Howling Commandos, and Nanali, a Wakandan spy embedded in Occupied Paris, they must join...

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is an upcoming superhero game set during the Second World War with the Black Panther, king of Wakanda leaps from one rooftop to another in Occupied Paris as he allies with the star-spangled man with a plan, Captain America. Together these heroes along with their trusted allies will thwart Hydra’s rise to power.

Developed by the creator of the Uncharted franchise, Amy Hennig, and Skydance New Media, this project is in collaboration with Marvel Games and will deliver on the promise of having a linear and cinematic story based on these iconic heroes. The trailer captivated fans and it took some sharp ears to realize that these two are not the only superpowered beings that will appear in the game.

Captain America And Black Panther Will Team Up Against Another Super-Soldier in Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra

Captain America and Black Panther got off...

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra blew the collective minds of everyone in attendance during the State of Unreal livestream of 2024 where countless presentations, demonstrations, and announcements were made. Various industry leakers have shared details of other games that may come in the future and it may be a welcome surprise to some.

Unannounced video game announcements can be a hit-and-miss, while some have solid shreds of evidence to build a case on, others are just pure rumor and speculation. Days before the State of Unreal, the title for the upcoming Marvel game from Uncharted creator Amy Hennig and Skydance New Media was leaked, which gave the leaker some credibility about his claims of a Matrix game.

Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra Leaker ClaimsTeases News For A Matrix Game Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra features both Captain America and Black Panther in Paris during World War II.

An X user called...

Rumors about the name of Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, a new Skydance New Media game about Captain America and Black Panther, did not overly excite fans. However, the State of Unreal at Gdc (Game Developers Conference) confirmed this name with a new CGI trailer.

This amazing trailer shows the power of the Unreal Engine 5 in action. This title has four different characters to use and is the first title for one of the creators of Uncharted and Legacy of Kain, Amy Hennig. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra will be released sometime in 2025.

The Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra trailer was full of Easter eggs with the movies and comics Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra will be available sometime in 2025.

After the rumored name for this game, fans were not very confident about Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, but the trailer cleared all the doubts with a lot of action...

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra just got an explosive story trailer during the State of Unreal 2024 presentation and Unreal Engine showcased its might once again. The trailer showcased Captain America hunting Black Panther with the game set in the year 1943, as per the title.

Unreal Engine 5’s capabilities were also showcased in full force as the characters and the overall visuals looked far better than any of the previous Marvel titles. The trailer ended with the release date shown as 2025, and while it’s a long wait for the title, fans wouldn’t worry much so long as the game releases without bugs and glitches.

First Look Trailer for Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra Looks Unreal

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra was revealed during Unreal Engine’s State of Unreal presentation today.

State of Unreal from Gdc 2024 just concluded and the presentation showcased the upcoming game developed using Unreal Engine...

This year, State of Unreal 2024 has released a lot of new announcements, but one of the major ones is the upcoming Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. Currently, this is a new game that is being developed by Skydance New Media and will tell the story of Captain America and Black Panther as they attempt to thwart Hydra’s plans in Paris.

At the moment, we do not have a lot of information regarding this game, as the only trailer we have received is quite short and is mainly aimed at revealing some of the characters we will see in the game, but even that short trailer was enough to get a major reaction from the gaming community.

Gamers Are Already Excited to See the Trailer for Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra has a new reveal trailer, and it looks awesome.

Even though there hasn’t...

After swinging through New York City streets with Spider-Man and building monster decks in Marvel Snap, all while waiting to pop our claws in Insomniac’s Wolverine, Skydance Media unveiled its trailer for Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, an action-adventure game bringing two of the greatest heroes together for one impossible mission.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra comes from award-winning game director and writer Amy Hennig, the talent behind games like Jak 3 and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Her latest interactive gaming experience finds Captain America and Black Panther coming to blows despite fighting the same enemy, Hydra. You can play as Cap and Black Panther in the game alongside Gabriel Jones, a U.S. soldier and member of the Howling Commandos, and Nanali, a Wakandan spy, as part of the mix. All characters feature different move sets and abilities throughout the explosive journey into enemy territory.

Drew Moerlein voices Steve Rogers / Captain America,...

Marvel and Skydance New Media showcased the first trailer of Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra at Epic’s State of Unreal 2024. The game was first announced in 2022.

The trailer depicts a complex relationship between Black Panther and Captain America, who initially appear to be clashing against one another. I presume the beloved heroes will join forces later in the game to take down Hydra.

Marvel 1943 is a narrative-driven cinematic action game set during World War II. The project is helmed by former Uncharted writer-director Amy Hennig and is made in Unreal Engine 5, which is evident from the highly detailed and visually stunning world seen in the trailer. The score is composed by Grammy winner Stephen Barton, who has previously created background score for games like Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Hennig revealed that the trailer was put together using real-time scenes from the gameplay. She added that Marvel 1943 uses MetaHuman Animator,...

A new Marvel video game has been announced via a teaser trailer that was revealed during Disney's D23 Expo, which is happening as we speak. While the game may be largely a mystery, as it doesn't even have a title yet, this trailer is sure to raise some eyebrows and generate a whole lot of curiosity. For one, it takes place during World War II rather than a modern-day setting. 

Naturally, that's a great place for Captain America to show up -- and he's certainly here! But he's not alone, as some other heroes are joining in on the action as well. Who will be taking on Hydra in the shadows with Cap? Black Panther, for one, but that's not T'Challa! We're actually looking at his grandfather, Azzuri, according to the official synopsis:

Marvel | Skydance New Media Project: Skydance New Media and Marvel Entertainment's upcoming narrative-driven, ensemble adventure game...

The streaming service Netflix pulled the plug on the sequel to Will Smith’s Bright following the controversy at The Oscars.

“It appears that Netflix will not be moving forward with a sequel to Bright. While Bright 2 was confirmed in 2018 with an orc audition, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw revealed that Netflix has ‘abandoned plans to make a sequel to Bright,’ but disclosed that it was not related to the recent slap incident at the Oscars.”

Read more at Hype Beast

Speaking of Netflix, The first-quarter reports are in, and it isn’t looking too hot a fourth of the way into 2022.

“In the first quarter of 2022 (January 1 to March 31), Netflix lost a net 200,000 subscribers, making it the first time in over a decade that the streaming service didn’t grow in subscriptions. If this weren’t bad enough, the loss was on the backdrop of Netflix projecting a 2,500,000 subscriber gain.

In this edition of Star Wars Bits:

Skydance New Media's Upcoming "Star Wars" Game Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder Lego Set "Star Wars Galactic Pals" Micro-Shorts "Star Wars: Crimson Reign" #4 Preview And More!

Skydance New Media recently announced a collaboration with Lucasfilm Games to create a narrative-driven, action-adventure game featuring an original story set in the "Star Wars" galaxy. Award-winning writer and director Amy Hennig, a game-industry legend whose credits include the "Jak and Daxter" and "Uncharted" franchises, will be working on the game. As our friends at Cinelinx point out, this is a second chance for Henning to play in the "Star Wars" sandbox.

"Amy Hennig...

The post Star Wars Bits: Video Games, Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder Lego Set, Galactic Pals, Crimson Reign, Star Wars Celebration, and More! appeared first on /Film.

Skydance New Media and Lucasfilm are teaming to develop a new Star Wars game.

Revealed Tuesday by New Media’s Amy Hennig, Skydance will work with Lucasfilm to develop and produce “a richly cinematic action-adventure game featuring an original story in the legendary Star Wars galaxy.” News of the Star Wars project comes several months after Skydance New Media unveiled the development of a Marvel game back in October.

“I’ve often described how seeing Star Wars in 1977 essentially rewired my 12-year-old brain, shaping my creative life and future indelibly,” said Hennig, President of Skydance New Media. “I’m elated to be working with Lucasfilm Games again to tell interactive stories in this galaxy that I love.”

Added Douglas Reilly, VP of Lucasfilm Games: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working again with Amy. She and the Skydance New Media team have the talent and ambition to create a unique Star Wars adventure.

Updated with awards dates: The Peabody Awards said Tuesday that it will announce the winning projects in its newest category, Digital and Interactive Storytelling, on March 24. The inaugural awards will be given to legacy media projects, with the category being folded into the main Peabody ceremony beginning in 2023.

The news comes after the organization last year introduced the expansion of categories to recognize storytelling achievements across interactive and immersive categories. A newly created Interactive Board is screening projects across Gaming, Interactive Journalism, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Social Video, Interactive Documentary, Transmedia Storytelling and more.

Kinetic Energy Entertainment CEO and co-founder Diana Williams is chairwoman of the new board, which has added Gabriel J.X Dance, Yasmin Elayat, Navid Khonsari and Opeyemi Olukemi to a group that already includes Lars Bastholm, Jay Bushman, Aymar Jean Christian, Katerina Cizek, Amy Hennig, Al Shaw, Kamal Sinclair, Sara Thacher and Lance Weiler.

The Peabodys,...

Sony’s Uncharted, based on the 15-year-old Amy Hennig and Naughty Dog-created Sony PlayStation video game, grossed $3.7M in Thursday night previews that began at 4Pm. That’s a solid number which bests the pre-pandemic previews of such mid-February hits like Sonic the Hedgehog, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and even with March PG-13 adventure movie Kong: Skull Island ($3.7M). Industry projections earlier this week had the PG-13 Tom Holland-Mark Wahlberg movie in the mid $30Ms over the 4-day Presidents weekend, possibly $40M, however, these preview figures provide great hope for better returns.

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have thumbed down Uncharted at 39% Rotten, but it’s not a movie for them: It’s a pure, breezy, fun popcorn film. If all goes well for Sony, they might have a new franchise on their hands in this Ruben Fleischer directed film.

Marvel Entertainment will join forces with Skydance’s New Media division for an original action-adventure game based on the superhero-filled worlds of the Marvel Universe.

Announced Friday by New Media’s Amy Hennig, who previously wrote for Naughty Dog’s Uncharted video game franchise, the upcoming gaming title is set to be a “narrative-driven, blockbuster action-adventure game, featuring completely original story and take on the Marvel Universe.” The game will mark Skydance New Media’s first initiative.

“I can’t imagine a better partner than Marvel for our first game,” said Hennig, President, Skydance New Media. “The Marvel Universe epitomizes all the action, mystery and thrills of the pulp adventure genre that I adore and lends itself perfectly to an interactive experience. It’s an honor to be able to tell an original story with all the humanity, complexity, and humor that makes Marvel characters so enduring and to enable...

Skydance New Media — the interactive division of David Ellison’s Skydance Media, which is helmed by Uncharted co-creator Amy Hennig — unveiled on Friday a partnership with Marvel to develop a narrative-driven, action adventure game.

This will be the first project from the Aaa studio, formed by Hennig and her producing partner, Electronic Arts veteran Julian Beak in 2019. The studio was launched with a focus on creating titles for traditional gaming platforms as well as emerging streaming services, with games designed to appeal to both seasoned and less experienced players.

“I can’t imagine a better partner than Marvel for ...

Skydance New Media — the interactive division of David Ellison’s Skydance Media, which is helmed by Uncharted co-creator Amy Hennig — unveiled on Friday a partnership with Marvel to develop a narrative-driven, action adventure game.

This will be the first project from the Aaa studio, formed by Hennig and her producing partner, Electronic Arts veteran Julian Beak in 2019. The studio was launched with a focus on creating titles for traditional gaming platforms as well as emerging streaming services, with games designed to appeal to both seasoned and less experienced players.

“I can’t imagine a better partner than Marvel for ...

The Peabody Awards is expanding its domain to include honors for storytelling in interactive, immersive and new media categories. As part of the expansion — which comes a week after Peabody announced its 30 winners for 2021 — an additional board of ten newly appointed jurors has been named.

That group of industry experts will help Peabody — which honors “stories that matter in broadcasting and streaming media” — move into the digital and immersive format arenas.

“The foundation of the Peabody Awards is honoring stories that matter,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody. “Significant and incredibly creative storytelling is happening beyond legacy media before our eyes. New storytelling techniques and advancements in technology are surpassing the confines of traditional media. Creators are pioneering new methods to tell powerful stories and reach new audiences, and the achievements are extraordinary.”

The Peabody Interactive Board will identify projects across formats including gaming, interactive journalism, virtual reality, augmented reality,...

Nearly half a century after George Lucas introduced the world to Star Wars, the franchise remains a household name and one of the biggest media properties of all time. With nine mainline films and two spinoffs, multiple television shows, a bevy of video games and a variety of comics, there are few people who haven’t at least heard the names “Luke Skywalker” or “Darth Vader.” So, it’s no surprise that any company that can capitalize on the success of the series using their respective form of media, and that’s exactly what EA has done since 2013 when they purchased the exclusive rights to create Star Wars games for the indefinite future.

EA’s entries in the Star Wars universe so far include shooters Battlefront and Battlefront II and 2019’s action-adventure game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, all of which have been confirmed to be canon. Meanwhile, the fourth...

In an interview with the MinnMaxShow, producer Zach Mumbach reveals new details about Amy Henning’s “Ragtag” Star Wars project and laments the project’s controversial cancellation.

We had this leadership team come in from Vancouver… and not knocking them, they were in the same position I was in Army of Two. They were like ‘we need to ship this thing, let’s go, cut this, cut this, cut this’,” Mumbach says. “And I’m thinking, this is effing Amy Hennig, we have the chance to make the greatest Star Wars game ever made and a possible Game of the Year contender. This isn’t an Army of Two game.”

According to Mumbach, the Ragtag project’s development was strange from the start. Basically, Visceral Games was asked to convert to the Frostbite Engine and make Battlefield Hardline. While the team accepted and completed that task, Mumbach says the transition...

Rob Leane Feb 26, 2020

This canceled Star Wars game, codenamed Viking, would’ve launched on the new consoles.

EA has canceled another Star Wars game, we learned this week, with a proposed spinoff of the Star Wars: Battlefront franchise apparently being binned last year. We're finding out about it now thanks to a detailed report from Kotaku, who spoke to six different people in the know in order to bring this news to light.

You may already know some details of EA's somewhat tumultuous time with the Star Wars license: although the team at EA have managed to publish two Star Wars: Battlefront games and one single-player title, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, they've also canceled a game codenamed Project Ragtag, a heist-based title that Uncharted's Amy Hennig worked on until 2017, and a game codenamed Orca, an open-world experience that EA Vancouver worked on until 2018. And now, we've learned that...

Matthew Byrd Apr 15, 2019

Uncharted creator Amy Hennig reflects on Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order and the cancelled Ragtag project.

While many Star Wars fans are excited about developer Respawn's upcoming single-player Star Wars adventure, Jedi: Fallen Order, few fans have as fascinating of a perspective on the reveal of this upcoming game as Amy Hennig; the creator of Uncharted who worked on an infamously canceled Star Wars project named Ragtag. Hennig admits to being a little confused as to why Fallen Order is being celebrated as single-player experience when Ragtag was partially canceled for being the same thing. 

"[It's] odd," said Hennig to Eurogamer in regards to the Fallen Order tweet from EA that celebrated Fallen Order's lack of Dlc and its single-player experience. "I mean, it's coming from the EA Star Wars Twitter handle, so it's certainly part of the plan, but I don't know whether it's implicitly referencing...

John Saavedra Apr 18, 2019

We went to Star Wars Celebration and learned a lot about all the new projects coming to the galaxy far, far away! Here's all the big news...

Star Wars Celebration 2019 brought all corners of the Star Wars universe under one roof for a weekend of news, trailers, and surprises from the galaxy far, far away. This year, all eyes were on Episode IX, which was the focus of the convention's first big panel. Besides appearances from the cast and crew, we finally learned the movie's official title and watched the first bit of footage. The trailer was absolutely gorgeous and full of crazy teases!

We also got news regarding The Mandalorian, the new Star Wars live-action series, as well as The Clone Wars season 7 and Jedi: Fallen Order. Plus, much more!

Here's everything we learned at Star Wars Celebration Chicago:

Video of Star Wars Episode IX – Teaser...

Visceral’s third-person Star Wars game is no more.

The once-promising project flickered into life under the stewardship of Amy Hennig, former Game Director of Naughty Dog and its beloved Uncharted series. Few game developers garner as much praise and respect as Hennig, so when she waxes lyrical about a creative venture, people tend to stand up and listen.

Such was the case when Venture Beat spoke to the industry stalwart last month, at which point Hennig reflected on Visceral’s ill-fated Star Wars game – a project “too expensive” to see the warm light of day. Cost wasn’t the only hurdle that the project failed to overcome though, as Amy Hennig tells Vb:

But we knew going in that was the goal. We were going to put this functionality into Frostbite. A lot of the team was hired to do Battlefield, and so that was a bit of a cultural shift,...

Matthew Byrd Mar 13, 2019

Like many fans of the Dead Space series, Glen Schofield wants to return to the franchise.

In an interview with Game Informer, Dead Space creator Glen Schofield revealed that he'd love the chance to make the fourth installment in the series. When asked whether or not that game would be Dead Space 4 or some kind of reboot or altered universe, Schofield elaborated on his wishes.

"I would probably do something where I didn't have to follow the lore of the other two [games]," said Schofield. "I thought, in the end, when they introduced all the aliens and everything, 'Wow, you didn't need to do that.'"

While the idea of getting permission to re-write the Dead Space canon might be doable, Schofield addresses the bigger elephant in the room: getting EA to sign-off on a sequel. So far as that goes, he admits that realistically getting the game...

Rob Leane Mar 11, 2019

As Uncharted director Amy Hennig puts it, "things are clearly not working the way they used to" in the gaming business.

Amy Hennig, director of the first three Uncharted games, has spoken candidly about the current state of the gaming industry. She's noticed, as anyone following the industry has, that games companies currently have a tendency to lay off hundreds of employees in one go, most recently at Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts. 

"I personally needed a break from it, but in that break, it's been an opportunity to say I'm not even sure it makes sense to do it that way," Hennig said to GamesIndustry.biz, discussing the trend for games companies to amass huge workforces, which they can't always afford to keep after a big title has launched.

"I think we keep doing it that way because we have these established companies and teams," Hennig continued,...

I fondly remember the golden years of Star Wars gaming. Everything from the ultra-detailed and incredibly satisfying X-Wing space shooter series to the moral thicket of Knights of the Old Republic to hurling stormtroopers to their doom in Jedi Outcast. It seemed that whatever kind of game experience you wanted, you could get it in a Star Wars title.

Disney’s purchase of the franchise should’ve heralded a new era of development, with hopes initially very high when EA won the sole rights to make Star Wars games. Six years later though and what have we got? Two average multiplayer shooters more known for their predatory microtransactions and loot boxes than their iffy gameplay.

It could have been so different, too. Dead Space developer Visceral Games teamed up with Uncharted creator Amy Hennig for what was promised to be a Aaa adventure in the mold of Sony’s hit series.