Given the project has only recently seen official confirmation, little is known about what EA’sBlack Panthergame will be like. What is known is that the newborn studio forEA’s Black Panther game, announced back in 2023, will be Cliffhanger Games, led in this endeavor by Kevin Stephens of Monolith Productions. The Cliffhanger team will also draw on the talents of devs behind franchises likeHalo,God of War, andCall of Duty.
More details about the third-person single-player title based on the beloved superhero have yet to arrive. Still, EA’sBlack Panthergame needs to deliver, and doing so will involve avoiding one pitfall in particular.
Cliffhanger’s Black Panther Should Let Players Explore Wakanda’s Urban Vistas
Job listings for the Black Panther gamehint at it being an open-world game, practically going as far as to confirm it outright. Should this speculation be truthful, Cliffhanger has the chance to right one of the wrongs seen in past games involving the character. Specifically, the critically pannedMarvel’s Avengersand its War for Wakanda DLC—an expansion that didn’t go nearly as far with the setting as it could have.
Marvel’s Avengers Barely Scratched The Surface of Wakanda
Marvel’s Avengers' War for Wakanda expansionfocuses sharply on the jungles of Wakanda rather than its urban centers. These landscapes are rendered quite expertly but seem a little lackluster in comparison to the setting’s hook. A jungle full of ruins is a description that can fit many fictional and real locales while the skyscrapers and streets of Wakanda present an Afrofuturism that is extremely rare in mainstream Western media.
The scope ofMarvel’s Avengers, which limited War of Wakandato about 2.5 hours of content, also highlights how an open-world game could do better. The setting of Wakanda is too rich with storytelling potential for just an expansion DLC, especially for a game noted for being content-deprived and repetitive. Indeed, the two MCUBlack Pantherfilms are a great example of the setting’s incredible potential; the two films each have a different protagonist, yet they sit atop much of the MCU in terms of box office results and critical acclaim.
The Futurism Of Wakanda Is A Major Pull
One major reason behind theBlack Pantherduology’s successcould be attributed to its presentation of an Africa without colonialism. The portrayal of a country within a continent that has been ravaged by imperialism as a leader in technological progress, as opposed to only a helpless victim of colonial powers, is one that struck a chord with a massive audience. Moreover, the Afrofuturist aesthetic of Wakanda is unique and beautiful, with open streets and ample vegetation. The nation’s gorgeous harmony of technology and nature is a treat for the eyes and an evocative take on science-fiction.
It would be a crime forCliffhanger’s Black Panthergameto not take advantage of the opportunity to let gamers really explore Wakanda. Not just the rural jungles on its outskirts, but the urban heart—the bustling streets and colorful spires. It’s almost guaranteed that a AAA Black Panthertitle will sell incredible numbers, so it would be best for EA to let Cliffhanger take its time and deliver on these high expectations.
