While fans of the Daywalker have little to look forward to regarding the current state of his next cinematic outing, noted immersive sim dev Arkane Studios has announced an alternative avenue for fans to get their vampire-hunting fix in the form of their Lyon-based branch’s upcoming Marvel’s Blade.
Seemingly the best hope for the hero to have any semblance of a quality adventure in the modern era, the Prey (2017) and Dishonored series developer unveiled their first superhero project on November 7th, premiering its debut trailer as part of the 2023 entry of Geoff Keighly’s annual The Game Awards.
Opening with a shot of the titular hunter seated within a barbershop, the room around him adorned with various religious fixtures, the cinematic preview soon finds Blade relaxing in his chair before asking his barber to turn up his music system.
However, as soon as the volume rises, the pair are met by reports of an apparent vampire incident taking place across Paris, France
Accidentally cutting himself on his razor, the barber then proceeds to nervously approach his client, to which he assures him, “Relax man, I don’t bite.”
Unfortunately for Blade, upon receiving the last shave of his clean-up, the moon light outside the shop turns blood red, prompting him to rise from his chair and get ready for work.
Handing the barber a 20 Euro bill and advising him to “Lock up tight now. Night’s just getting started,” Blade then closes out the trailer by showing off his arsenal – finishing with his signature katana.
Following the trailer’s unveiling, Keighly was then joined onstage by Marvel Games VP and Creative Director Bill Roseman and Arkane Lyon studio director Dinga Bakaba, at which point the host asked the pair if they could speak to how this project came to be.
“Well Geoff, let me tell you, the secret super power of Marvel Games is our constant focus on bringing together world-class talent with the fan-favorite characters that they love,” began Roseman. “Now, we are huge fans of Arkane Lyon, not only because of the story-rich games they create with innovative gameplay, but because of their authentic passion. And that’s why, on Blade’s 50th anniversary, we are so honored to announce this true Marvel Team-Up.”
Adding to his colleague’s thoughts, Bakaba further detailed, “After Dishonored and Deathloop, our first order of business was to make another very Arkane game, but with a title that is easier to say in a French accent [laughs]. So when [Arkane Lyon Co-Creative and Art Director] Sebastien Mitton and I had the opportunity to chat with Marvel, we said, ‘Okay. Let’s really challenge them. Let’s present the wildest take on a super hero we love.”
“And we ate it up!” Roseman then exclaimed. “The Arkane touch fits Blade like his trademark trench coat. Think about it – it’s a mature, action-adventure game, single-player, where you get to play Blade your way. For true believers, it’s a dream come true.”
Their time onstage coming to a close, Bakaba was ultimately asked why he wanted to work with the character of Blade specifically, to which he asserted, “Well, he’s the Daywalker.”
“He walks as half man, half vampire, torn between the warm society of the living and the rushing power of the undead,” said the designer. “And as a kid of mixed origins, his dual heritage resonated with me, so yes, it is a dream to be making a game about Blade, in Paris, my hometown – Well, my hometown if it was walled-in and we shared it with blood-thirsty invaders that come out as soon as the sun comes down.”
Concluding their reveal, Bakaba informed fans, “The entire team at Arkane Lyon is pouring so much into this immersive, third-person action adventure set in the heart of Paris, so please sit back, and let us cook, and merci beacoup!”
As of writing, no word has been raised regarding a potential release date for Marvel’s Blade.