When a shared cinematic universe is set to launch, obviously films come to mind. Those films are a large part of that franchise. Then once it continues to grow, smaller stories for television or streaming then come out. Audiences have seen this with Marvel and Star Wars. Then will see it with the DCU. Films and shows combine to tell a large story with multiple smaller stories to fill in the spots or enhance. One thing that Star Wars has done that Marvel has yet to do is include video games in the franchise’s story through the campaign mode in Star Wars: Battlefront II. However, the game wasn’t received well. It’s already confirmed the DCU will bring in video games to contribute to their storytelling. A move that Marvel has yet to do and Star Wars tried with mixed reviews. But video games are already set to be a building brick to the DCU. Yet, how will these video games be utilized?
The first hump that they need to address is the time it takes to make these games. Making a video game is a different craft than filmmaking. There is definitely a different process in doing it. But, video games probably lead the way for the arts when it comes to a rushed end product. Video games are infamous for being rushed due to a number of reasons. Other forms of media are no stranger to this but video games tend to receive the most negative pushback. Of late, it seems to be more apparent. That’s something the DCU must avoid. Especially since the last major DC game fell extremely short of expectations. The games will have to wait for their turn because the films and shows need to not only establish the universe but establish success. The games will have to wait for their time to take their turn. And if not properly timed, it could disrupt the flow of the DCU. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was delayed after delayed and did not capitalize on the hype of the Suicide Squad. If a game within the DCU is not given proper time to be made and find a perfect time to be released, it could be reshuffled somewhere in the schedule. Due to that, some ideas have potential to be cut or replaced. Because a game could lead the way into a show or movie, being delayed or rushed or shuffled, that moment in the movie or show could be lessened or taken out entirely. And since, James Gunn has confirmed that stories must be greenlit before being made, it adds more pressure to the timing of the video games.
Another hurdle these games have to clear is understanding that not everyone finds interest in video games. For whatever reason it may be, fans look the other way when it comes to video games. A beloved comic book hero may be the star of a video game but that’s not enough to gain some fans’ attention. So, James Gunn and company have to be aware of this and plan video games accordingly. Because not everyone may not have access, interest, or comprehension of games, the stories in them should only enhance the overall story happening in the films. A huge, impactful, crucial chapter of the overall story should not be in the video game. Of all the forms of media the DCU will use to tell this story, the video game route will be the one less traveled. So, if a vital part of the overall story is used in the game, it could leave a large portion of the fan based lost. If any films reference, allude or continue the story used in the game, it leaves fans confused.
But since video games are already confirmed to tell the overarching story and a unique way to tell it, video games must be used. To find the balance, the stories in them need to compliment the story the subsequent films will tell. When it’s referenced, the audience who hasn’t played the games could just embrace as part of the film’s story. But the fans who did play the game are awarded for their effort to the game and get a little tip of the hat. An easter egg so to speak. When the universe grows, video games have the potential to be bolder in terms of the impact their stories have on the overall one. However, in the beginning, they need to be small. So, some games could serve as origin stories for a particular hero. Hal Joran Green Lantern and potentially Batman are veterans, in their primes or just passed it. A game set in their earlier years could compliment the stories in films without overstepping. And has no real consequence if the game is played or not. Of course, for the ones that do play the game will have more insight on the character’s origin. But for those who didn’t, could get the information of the character through the film’s story. Another route the games could go for is use characters that the general public are not that familiar with like Deathstroke. This route also offers no real consequence if the game is not played by every fan. It enhances the character without getting the way of more popular hero’s growth. These video games do have room to operate and may even have an untapped resource to tell a story.
But this is a creative opportunity for the DCU. It’s a relatively new and original approach to handle storytelling. It could help in partial to tell a larger story. This method allows fans to enter the fray. Instead of fans taking a passive approach to enjoy stories told in a shared universe, fans could now take an active approach. Their actions could hold weight and be rewarded. By completing the games, some fans would have a better experience watching films because they would have better understanding of what is occurring. Their time spent on the game will be rewarded due to that better understanding. If handled carefully and respectfully, fans who play the games, could have a similar impact to how callers in the 1980’s had in the fate of Jason Todd. More than anything though, it just simply brings fans closer to the big story. Fans could be at the helm of characters and worlds they see on screen. And that’s something special.
