Atomic Arcade, a US-based game development studio led by the ex-Warner Bros. developer, Ames Kirshen, revealed that it has received the green light from Wizards of the Coast to work on the G.I. Joe Snake Eyes game after a meeting at Atomic Arcade’s Raleigh, North Carolina studio.
For a project that has spent nearly two years in the concept phase, this announcement signals a key transition that’s been a long time coming.
Snake Eyes, who fans will probably recognize as the protagonist of 2021’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is starring in this AAA game. In an intriguing twist, the film forms part of a broader effort to reboot the G.I. Joe movie franchise and link it with the iconic Transformers universe. As such, we might just see a Transformers vs. G.I. Joe showdown somewhere down the line.
Delving deeper into the game’s development process, the pre-production phase is a crucial part of the journey. It lays the groundwork for full production, getting both the game and the team ready for the final leg. According to Atomic Arcade, some of the challenges and targets for this phase include finalizing development pipelines, setting visual and performance targets, and achieving a vertical slice milestone. This milestone will showcase a final-quality cross-section of the game and a variety of aspects – ranging from gameplay loops and technology to mechanics, art, and audio – providing a tantalizing glimpse into the final product.
While pre-production may seem like an intermediate step, the developers are approaching it with fervor and intensity. The team, having expanded significantly since the concept phase, will be working hard to ensure that the game lives up to the high expectations associated with the G.I. Joe franchise and the AAA classification.
It’s worth noting that this game follows a long lineage of G.I. Joe titles, with the first being G.I. Joe: Cobra Strike, which was released back in 1983 on the Atari. The most recent installment was G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout, a third-person shooter, released in 2020.
This announcement is a breath of fresh air for fans concerned about the game’s fate, given recent reports about Wizards of the Coast’s apparent scaling back of its ambitions in the video game space.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the company had canceled at least five of its unannounced games. However, it appears the G.I. Joe Snake Eyes game isn’t among them.
In an industry where the quality of licensed games can be erratic, the move into pre-production is a positive sign that this title is progressing on track. For an IP like G.I. Joe, careful development and strategic handling are key to delivering a game that does justice to the franchise.
As we’ve seen with games like Batman: Arkham Asylum and Marvel’s Spider-Man, when an iconic IP is given the necessary time and budget, the results can be spectacular.
Atomic Arcade is bringing together an impressive team of veterans from Bethesda, Sony, Warner Bros., and many more, to develop this untitled G.I. Joe game. The pre-production phase is all about shaping the game’s future and providing a sneak peek into what the final release will look like.
For fans eagerly awaiting the game’s release, this update is an encouraging step forward and a promising indication of the attention to detail and care being given to the development process.
As Atomic Arcade has made clear, they’re incredibly proud of the work done so far and the game they’re creating. The final product might be years away, but it promises to be exciting.
