Electronic Arts and Marvel have assembled a deal that gives the veteran games developer access to making games inspired by the roster of comic books heroes that Marvel has under its belt.
The first Marvel title to be developed under the deal is Iron Man, which EA announced just last week. The game will be a single-player action adventure for PC and console that'll feature an original story based on the Marvel character's history. Under the deal, EA will be making three games using Marvel characters (via Bloomberg).
Laura Miele, Electronic Art's chief operating officer, revealed that she first got in touch with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige four years ago seeking advice on how to manage the many games studios under EA's umbrella. Then, during the pandemic, she reached out again and begun a professional relationship with Marvel's head of gaming Jay Ong, which is how the road to the deal started, according to Bloomberg.
Marvel is owned by Walt Disney, with the comic book characters and worlds forming the crucial foundation for the billion-dollar grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has spawned multiple movies and TV shows. It's not the only relationship EA has with Disney as the developer has also partnered with Disney's Lucasfilm for Star Wars games. These include Star Wars: Battlefront and the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
"We have an intentional, deliberate strategy to have a balanced portfolio," Miele told Bloomberg. "There will be Marvel fans who don't play other EA games. That's been true with Star Wars."
Iron Man was once a relatively niche Marvel character, compared to more famous ones such as Spider-Man and Wolverine, but that all changed with the release of 2008's Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr., and which kicked off the MCU. Electronic Art's game based on the character is being developed by Motive Studio, a Montreal-based unit of The Redwood City, California-headquartered games giant.
EA has not yet revealed any further details about the other Marvel games it has in the works, or a release schedule.
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