A revival of theInfamousseries has been on a lot of gamers' wish lists, and for good reason. Developer Sucker Punch’s superhero franchise introduced a fresh spin to the genre, allowing players to choose whether protagonist Cole MacGrath would use his powers for good or evil. It was a compelling take on the superhero formula, which spawned a direct sequel and follow-up entries with new protagonists, Delsin and Fetch. Despite its success, though,Infamoushas been dormant for over a decade now.
However, there is still potential for theInfamousfranchise to come back in the future. At the moment, Sucker Punch has kept busy withGhost of TushsimaandGhost of Yotei, but a return toInfamousisn’t completely off the table. If that day ever comes, and Sucker Punch decides to revive its superhero series, waiting forthis current influx of Marvel and DC gamesto blow over may be the best decision.
An Infamous Reboot is Possible, But the Timing Has to Be Right
Marvel and DC Are Gearing Up For a Wave of Releases
Not only areMarvel’s Spider-Manseries andMarvel Rivalsalready big hits, but the Marvel brand has an extensive list of projects currently in development.Since Disney bought Marvelback in 2009, the brand has bled over into nearly every corner of pop culture, and its presence in gaming only seems to be increasing with the projects it currently has in the pipeline.
When it comes to DC, the company’s recent round of games may have not proven as successful as Marvel yet, but there is still time to bounce back fromGotham KnightsandSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.Monolith is currently working on itsWonder Womangame, and the beginning of James Gunn’s cinematic universe may ignite a new wave of DC game adaptations. Even if Marvel is the only prevalent comic book brand in gaming in the next few years, there is bound to be saturation in the genre. The heavy presence of Marvel and DC superheroes in film and television already makes it difficult for superhero stories outside those brands to gain traction, and a similar landscape in gaming could hinderInfamousfrom reaching its potential.
Infamous First Light, doesn’t feature a Karma system and serves as a prequel toInfamous Second Son.
Infamous is Better Off Waiting in the Wings
Once Marvel and DC’s planned games have launched and have had a while to entertain audiences, only then will Sucker Punch have the perfect opening to rise from the grave. Allowing this upcoming wave of superhero hype to die down is likely the best path forward, because once superhero fans have finished these various games, there will be a niche to fill. Of course, there is also the risk of gamers becoming fatigued by superheroes, butInfamoushas the benefit of being its own unique IP.
While the heart ofInfamousis based around super-powered humans, the franchise isn’t exactly a superhero story, at least in the traditional sense. The series explores what happens when normal people are given extraordinary abilities, and that is potentially compelling enough of a concept to grab the attention of gamers, even afteran onslaught of Marvel and DC offerings.
A spin-off forInfamous 2, titledInfamous: Festival of Blood, shows an alternate reality where Cole becomes a vampire.
The Wait For More Infamous Continues
As of now, it seems as though Sucker Punch doesn’t have plans to continue theInfamousseries, but that doesn’t mean it will never happen. Yes, it could be wishful thinking, butafterGhost of Yotei, there’s no telling what the developer has in store next. Only time will tell, but if anInfamousreboot ever did happen, it may be best left years down the line.
