EA’s Black Panther game: Everything we know so far

EA’s new development studio Cliffhanger Games is building a single-player Black Panther game; here’s everything we know, so far.

Marvel Games has multiple projects in development with various third-party partners. Of course, Insomniac has teams hard at work on producing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and a Wolverine-starring adventure.

Meanwhile, Amy Hennig’s crew at Skydance Media is working on a narrative-driven experience set during World War 2 called Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. This particular title will feature the likes of Captain America and Black Panther (specifically, T’Challa’s grandfather).

Electronic Arts’ Motive Studio also announced a single-player Iron Man game in 2022. That’s not the only EA-owned team making a Marvel-branded game. The newly opened Cliffhanger Games just teased its Black Panther project, so here’s everything we know about it, thus far.

Contents:

• Black Panther release date speculation
• Studio developing Black Panther game
• Black Panther game story details
• Black Panther gameplay

Does the Black Panther game have a release date?

No, the Black Panther title does not have a due date. In fact, as of writing, EA and Cliffhanger have yet to so much as tease a potential launch window.

In celebrating the 57th anniversary of Black Panther’s first appearance, Electronic Arts announced a new interactive experience starring the hero of Wakanda. The project is currently in the nascent phases of production, but fans can expect a third-person, single-player game.

EA’s press release further teased the following: “Our mission is to build an expansive and reactive world that empowers players to experience what it is like to take on the mantle of Wakanda’s protector, the Black Panther.”

Since development is still in the early days, it’s likely this particular Marvel game won’t hit store shelves for several years.

Which studio is developing EA’s Black Panther game?

The adventure will be produced by Cliffhanger Games, a new AAA development house based out of Seattle. Former Monolith Productions VP and Studio Head Kevin Stephens leads Cliffhanger, an interesting choice given that he oversaw the development of other licensed titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

Industry veterans with credits on Call of Duty, God of War, and Halo Infinite have already joined the burgeoning crew.

In a statement, Stephens wrote: “We’re dedicated to delivering fans a definitive and authentic Black Panther experience, giving them more agency and control over their narrative than they have ever experienced in a story-driven video game.”

Marvel

Story details for EA’s Black Panther game

There’s currently no word on which direction Cliffhanger will take the plot. Even who will don the title of the Black Panther remains a mystery. Might T’Challa serve as the Wakandan protector, or someone else?

That much isn’t clear; however, EA’s press release did note that Cliffhanger plans on telling an “original” story. As such, a direct adaptation of a particular comic arc or movie narrative seems unlikely.

Black Panther gameplay details

As expected, there isn’t much known about what EA’s upcoming Black Panther game will look like gameplay wise. However, a recent job listing for the project indicates that it will be an open-world experience.

The job listing, created by Cliffhanger Games, calls for a Senior Sandbox Designer to join the team. The new hire “will be instrumental in designing and populating encounters, systems, and gameplay within a dynamic and evolving open world.”

In the gaming space, a Sandbox title is often used to described open-world games, RPGs or any experience that can be impacted by player decisions or an environment players can interact with uniquely.