Video Game Adaptations May Enjoy a Decade-Long Surge in Popularity

The video game industry is witnessing a significant wave of successful adaptations, with films like The Super Mario Bros Movie and series like Fallout and The Last Of Us drawing in massive audiences. According to David Alpert, CEO of Skybound, this trend is not a fleeting phenomenon but rather the beginning of a long-term movement that could last for five to ten years. Alpert draws a parallel with comic book movie adaptations, which experienced a similar surge in popularity after the release of Spider-Man in 2002. He attributes the shift in video game adaptations to two key factors: the evolution of video games themselves, which now offer immersive virtual worlds with complex characters and storylines, and advancements in film and TV production technology. The original Jurassic Park, for instance, had around 600 special effects shots, a feat that can now be achieved in a single TV episode. Alpert cites Fallout as a prime example of a successful video game adaptation, praising its faithfulness to the original property while also being a compelling TV show. He expresses his desire to see a video game adaptation that reaches the same level of excellence as the film adaptation of Dune. Jon Goldman, Skybound's co-founder, advises game developers to focus on creating exceptional games before attempting to adapt their IP into other forms of entertainment. He stresses that having a great game is essential for attracting TV partners and that treating adaptations as spin-offs or marketing tools can be detrimental. Goldman also notes that the video game industry has an 'unbound business model,' which allows for a wide range of revenue streams, from free-to-play games to subscription-based services. While this model has not been disrupted by the rise of subscriptions in the same way as the TV and film industries, Goldman believes that it may eventually face similar pressures.