Unlocking the Full Potential of TV and Movie Adaptations for Game Franchises

The recent surge in high-quality TV shows and movies based on video game franchises has been a game-changer for the industry. With the likes of Fallout and The Last of Us achieving immense success, it's surprising how quickly this trend has become the new norm. Just a decade ago, the idea of video game properties being adapted into well-received TV shows and movies would have been met with skepticism. Fast forward to 2024, and the landscape has changed dramatically, with numerous successful adaptations fuelling a boom in companies seeking to bring game IPs to other screens. The success of these adaptations is undeniable, with The Last of Us, Fallout, and other shows like Halo, The Witcher, and animated series tied to League of Legends, Cyberpunk, and Castlevania, drawing in new audiences. On the movie front, titles like Super Mario Bros and Sonic have achieved significant box office success, while others like Uncharted and Five Nights at Freddy's have performed well commercially, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. However, not all adaptations have been successful, with some, like Capcom's Monster Hunter and Resident Evil, failing to impress. Despite the appetite for these adaptations being clear, the industry seems to be struggling to capitalize on their success. Many companies are leaving money on the table by failing to create new content, updates, or promotions to tie in with the adaptations, leaving new audiences with limited options to engage with the franchise. There are exceptions, with some companies doing an excellent job of tying their adaptations to their game lifecycles. The key challenge lies in developing a strategy to incorporate these new elements into their planning. With game development cycles becoming increasingly lengthy and expensive, the risk of aligning a game's launch with a TV show or movie is significant. Nevertheless, the industry would do well to work on this, as the current approach is often leaving audiences with outdated or unavailable games. The success of TV and movie adaptations is a relatively new trend, and the industry has been caught off guard. However, with time and effort, it's likely that companies will rise to the challenge and find ways to effectively tie their game franchises to these new media. The industry has previously perfected the art of developing games to launch alongside major movie releases, and it's now time to rediscover this lost art and capitalize on the success of these prestige shows and movies.