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We’re currently in a renaissance of video game adaptations, with Netflix leading the charge. From “Sonic the Hedgehog” to “Mario,” there have been tons of iconic video games made into big movies and TV shows. Netflix has been a prolific force in video game adaptation – the streaming giant has filled its library with many adaptations of well-known games. The animated adaptation of “Castlevania” went down very well with the critics, and “Arcane” (based on “League of Legends”) quickly became a pop culture phenomenon.
Along with “Castlevania” and “Arcane,” Netflix created adaptations for games like “The Witcher,” “Dragon’s Dogma,” “DOTA,” “Cuphead” and, more recently, “Resident Evil,” which fell to mixed reviews. in 2022. Netflix made some mistakes with the live-action series “Resident Evil”, but it will have many opportunities to make up for this, since the company’s slate is full of video game adaptations. There are anime versions of iconic fighting and sci-fi games, as well as spin-offs and sequel seasons to its most notable adaptations. Read on to find out more.
Tekken (Tekken Bloodline)
“Tekken”, developed by Bandai Namco, is one of the most popular fighting games in existence. Since debuting in 1994, the series has evolved into a franchise with ten main entries and numerous spin-off titles. “Tekken” became so prolific that characters like Heihachi and Kazuya made guest appearances in other fighting games like “PlayStation All Stars: Battle Royale” and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.” The “Tekken” franchise is no stranger to being adapted into animated and live-action films, but it’s now set to get its first anime treatment from Netflix with “Tekken: Bloodline.”
“Bloodline” is apparently set between “Tekken 2” and “Tekken 3” and focuses on Jin Kazama as he seeks revenge for his mother’s death at the hands of antagonist Ogre. The trailer shows that “Bloodline” is full of famous characters from the franchise and is set to deliver amazing animation mixed with some iconic images from the games. On the same subject : “The Terminal List” author Jack Carr responds to criticism of the Prime Video adaptation. It looks like a fan’s dream anime version of the games and will hopefully live up to the hype.
Cyberpunk 2077 (Cyberpunk: Edgerunners)
Although it had a really rough start at launch, CD Projekt Red’s “Cyberpunk 2077” has slowly been winning players back. When it launched, “Cyberpunk” became notorious for being unfinished and filled with game-breaking bugs and glitches. With several patches and updates, it was able to become the immersive and ambitious sci-fi epic that fans wanted it to be.
The game takes players into the dangerous and tech-obsessed world of Night City, where they can basically do anything they want, from traversing the underground black market to becoming a top mercenary. This may interest you : Netflix’s program to fix the payment crisis began in Asia. Despite the game’s rocky start, Netflix and famous anime studio Trigger – the people behind anime like “Kill la Kill”, “Kiznaiver” and “BNA: Brand New Animal” – have been hard at work on a spin-off series titled “Cyberpunk”. : Edgerunners.”
The anime is set in Night City and follows David Martinez, a street kid turned mercenary lawman who tries to survive the violent and body-mod-obsessed Night City. The series is set to hit Netflix in September 2022 and it looks pretty incredible. Trigger has built a visually impressive and understandable anime action reboot and “Edgerunners” looks like the studio’s most ambitious project to date. Hopefully, “Edgerunners” will continue to expand the “Cyberpunk” world and draw a wider audience into its unique environment.
Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic: Prime)
Sonic the Hedgehog’s legacy in gaming is quite complicated due to many poorly received titles, but the character has found new life on the big screen. Both “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies did well with fans and most critics, giving SEGA’s most famous character a much-needed resurgence. On the same subject : The Boys Season 3 Episode 8 Release Date and Time on Amazon Prime Video. Paramount+ is going even further expanding the cinematic world of Sonic with an upcoming spin-off series focused on beloved character Knuckles. However, Netflix is also releasing a Sonic show of its own with the upcoming animated series “Sonic Prime.”
“Sonic Prime” sees Sonic spin course into the multiverse as he tries to defeat a new threat that seeks to tear everything apart. Outside of that, not many details have been released. We know that in addition to Sonic, fans can expect to see the likes of Tails, Knuckles, Big the Cat and other beloved characters. We’ve only had very small teases so far, but from what we’ve seen, it looks visually stunning with its 3D animation and could be a big hit given how popular Sonic has become. Although no specific release date has been revealed, “Sonic Prime” is currently set to debut on Netflix sometime in late 2022.
Splinter Cell
Ubisoft’s “Splinter Cell,” based on Tom Clancy’s novel series of the same name, is one of the most beloved stealth games out there. With seven main games, the series generally follows elite black operative Sam Fisher as he embarks on dangerous undercover missions across the globe. Fans have been begging Ubisoft to bring Sam Fisher back for years, and while it was announced that Ubisoft is working on a remake of the first game, fans also have a “Splinter Cell” Netflix anime series coming in the near future.
Announced during Netflix’s Geeked Week in 2021, not much is known about the upcoming “Splinter Cell” series. However, there’s a notable name behind it that fans can definitely get excited about: “John Wick” co-creator Derek Kolstad is set to write the series and serve as showrunner. Even though not much is known about the series at the time of this writing, “Splinter Cell” is still one of Netflix’s most anticipated gaming adaptations and could start a new resurgence for the franchise if done well.
Tomb Raider
The “Tomb Raider” series has had its ups and downs over the years, but it remains a historic gaming franchise. Since debuting in 1996, “Tomb Raider” has not only offered fans an incredibly fun adventure experience, but also gave gaming one of its most iconic female protagonists in Lara Croft. “Tomb Raider” has also made the jump to the big screen with two live-action films led by Angelina Jolie and a 2018 reboot with Alicia Vinkander, who is expected to release a second entry at some stage. Now, Netflix is getting in on the action with an upcoming anime series “Tomb Raider” set after the events of the Survivor Trilogy.
At this point, not much is known about the story of the series, but we do know who voices Lara Croft. Known for her role as Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hayley Atwell has been cast as Croft and will be joined by Earl Baylon, who will reprise his voice role from the games as Lara’s trusted ally Jonah. Allen Maldonado has also joined the cast and voices technician Zip.
Assassin’s Creed
“Assassin’s Creed” is one of Ubisoft’s longest-running franchises and has been bringing players into multiple historical periods for over a decade. From Ancient Greece to the American Revolution, “Assassin’s Creed” has taken players on quite a journey through time and continuously expanded their knowledge with each game. While the 2016 film starring Michael Fassbender failed to impress, fans should be excited about the upcoming Netflix live-action series.
“For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ brand into an iconic franchise,” Jason Altman, Head of Ubisoft Film & Television Los Angeles, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to create an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series with Netflix, and we look forward to developing the next saga in the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ universe.” Currently, there are no details about the story or in what period the series will take place, but we do know that Jeb Stuart – co-writer of great action films such as “Die Hard” and “The Fugitive” – is writing the script and will act as showrunner.
With the “Assassin’s Creed” franchise having so much lore and history within its ongoing story, Netflix could strike gold by adapting it into a TV series. The deal between Ubisoft and Netflix isn’t just for a live-action series either — animated shows and anime adaptations are also in the pipeline.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (Captain Laserhawk)
It’s pretty rare for a standalone spin-off title to become as popular as the original, but that’s exactly what happened when Ubisoft released the “Far Cry 3” expansion “Blood Dragon.” Fans immediately became obsessed with the game’s retro-futuristic style, a loving homage to 80s action movies. While “Far Cry 3” is pretty grounded for the most part, “Blood Dragon” has players fighting demonic lizard creatures with futuristic technology. It’s a big favorite among “Far Cry” fans, and Netflix is now adapting it into an anime series.
The upcoming “Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix” takes the concept of the game and turns it into a neon-hued animated epic that will take viewers on a universe-mixing adventure. Not much has been shown about “Captain Laserhawk” though other than a killer animation test video that makes the series look incredibly ambitious. “Castlevania” fans should be especially interested in “Captain Laserhawk” because showrunner Adi Shankar played a big role in Netflix’s “Castlevania” series. In an interview with Collider, Shankar said that he “created a brand new 90’s retro-futuristic cyberpunk IP for Ubisoft that remixes several Ubisoft properties in a fun new ‘Elseworlds’ way.”
There’s still no word on when we’ll see “Captain Laserhawk,” but the anticipation is palpable.
Far Cry
Along with “Captain Laserhawk”, Ubisoft and Netflix are collaborating to create an anime series “Far Cry”. “Far Cry” is one of Ubisoft’s most successful franchises. It brings players into chaotic environments for a mix of brutal and often psychedelic battles for survival against psychotic but alluring antagonists. The most recent entry, “Far Cry 6,” took players into the middle of a violent crackdown led by dictator Anton Castillo, played by professional on-screen villain Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad,” “The Boys,” “The Mandalorian.” “). Now, Netflix is looking to create its own kind of “Far Cry” story and give it an animated visual style.
Currently, there are no details or development updates for this new “Far Cry” animated series, but the potential for something great is high. With “Far Cry” always managing to create interesting, politically driven worlds of chaos and compelling villains, it shouldn’t be too hard for Netflix to find inspiration. Hopefully, this will be a unique “Far Cry” experience.
Devil May Cry
“Devil May Cry” is one of Capcom’s most beloved franchises, known for its flashy combat and great characters. The series follows demon hunter Dante in his daring escapades against infernal forces and his cryptic brother Virgil. A signature trademark of “Devil May Cry,” aside from Dante himself, is its unique style that drips into every part of the experience. The music, the dialogue and the combat all share an elegance that makes “Devil May Cry” a true classic franchise in gaming. Now, Netflix is looking to bring that same energy into an anime adaptation.
Adi Shankar is clearly a strong work horse for Netflix, not only producing “Castlevania” and “Captain Laserhawk”, but also leading the anime “Devil May Cry”. Details were scarce, but in a November 2021 interview with IGN, Shankar gave fans an update on where the show was at. He said that the Season 1 script is done and that they are telling a “rad” story that will unfold over several seasons. Shankar also confirmed that Dante, Virgil, and Donna will be in the series.
This isn’t the first time the title got the anime treatment: Madhouse’s “Devil May Cry: The Animated Series” dropped in 2007 but only lasted one season. Shankar clearly hopes to top that show and make “Devil May Cry” a top title on the streamer.
League of Legends (Arcane Season 2)
“League of Legends” has cultivated one of the largest and most dedicated communities in gaming. From its huge presence in the eSports space to its continuous growth since debuting in 2009, it has become a legendary franchise over the last decade. Netflix and “League of Legends” developer Riot Games teamed up to deliver an animated series called “Arcane” in 2021, and it was a huge success. The series garnered widespread acclaim, even garnering two Emmy nominations.
“Arcane” will return for a next season and it is already one of the most anticipated releases of Netflix for 2023. Based on the trailer, it is likely that Season 2 will pick up right where the first season left off, looking. the consequences of the actions of Jinx (Ella Purnell) and continuing to expand its lore. There are plenty of Easter eggs and references in Season 1 that hint at which characters could appear in the future, with the likes of Vander, Darius and Urgot all rumored to be in the pipeline for Season 2.
“Arcane” broke Netflix’s streaming records in 2021 and the creators will be hoping that the second season does just as well with subscribers.
Cuphead (The Cuphead Show! Season 2)
“Cuphead” has gone from being an indie hit that pays homage to the golden age of American animation to becoming a pop culture icon. The game was not only great to play, as players would fend off some creatively cartoonish bosses like the annoying Cuphead or his brother Mugman, but it also struck a chord with a wider audience. Its uniqueness in modern animation is what led Netflix to get involved with developer Studio MDHR to create animated series “The Cuphead Show!” The series sees Cuphead (Tru Valentino) and Mugman (Fred Todaro) go through several misadventures that evoke the vibes of “Ren and Stimpy” while showing some beautifully nostalgic classic animation.
The series will return for a next season in August 2022, and is sure to make more nods to the games and hilarious fights between Cuphead and Mugman. Lady Chalice is set to play a bigger role, and the trailer confirmed that fan-favorite villains like The Devil and King Dice are returning, along with debuting villains like Captain Brineybeard. Episode details are still under wraps, but it won’t be long until fans reunite with Cuphead and Mugman for more comedic outings.
Castlevania (Castlevania: Nocturne)
The animated series “Castlevania” was a big win for Netflix, and the streaming giant is far from done with it. When the original series ended with Season 4 in 2021, it seemed that Netflix had closed the curtain on the popular vampire franchise. Fortunately for fans of the hit show, that’s not the case. During its Geeked Week event, Netflix announced and showed a teaser for the upcoming sequel to “Castlevania,” known as “Castlevania: Nocturne.”
“Castlevania: Nocturne” follows Richter Belmont, who fans know as the successor of Simon Belmont and Sypha Belnades and the protagonist of “Castlevania” games such as “Rondo of Blood” and “Symphony of the Night”. “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” players also know that Richter was added to the roster along with Simon. Not much has been revealed yet in terms of the plot of the show, but there are a lot of great stories involving Ritcher that the series can pull from the games.
The Witcher (The Witcher: Blood Origin)
“The Witcher” has become an important series for Netflix and is being significantly expanded for the platform. While the debut season had some pacing issues, it bounced back in a big way with Season 2, which quickly joined Netflix’s all-time most-watched list. Season 3 is on its way with some big new cast additions, but that’s not all. “The Witcher” is also getting a spin-off series titled “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” which will take viewers into a new story set before the events of “The Witcher.”
“The Witcher: Blood Origin” will delve into the making of the first Witcher and focus on the ancient elven civilization before it fell apart. The prequel series has a great cast behind it, with Michelle Yeoh leading the line as Scían. According to Netflix, “Scían is the last of her nomadic tribe of sword-elves. No one can come close to her art with the blade, and no one carries so much loss in their heart. When the opportunity arises to retrieve a stolen holy sword, taken from her fallen tribe by evil means, she launches herself on a deadly quest that will change the outcome of the Continent.”
