With Superman’s DCU Debut Imminent, Now’s the Time For Injustice 3

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 25, 2024 2 Views 8 Min Read
With Superman's DCU Debut Imminent, Now's the Time For Injustice 3



Injustice has been dormant for quite some time now, with the last entry in the series released all the way back in January 2017. After almost eight years of radio silence, some fans may have begun to wonder if Injustice has a future at all. What doesn’t help matters is that the last several years have been a bit of a tough time for the DC brand as a whole.

Injustice 2 was only the second entry in the series, but it still managed to garner a sizable following in its heyday. With so much going for it, the lack of any new entry has become a bit of a head-scratching subject in the fighting game community. Of course, NetherRealm Studios has had its hands full thanks to Mortal Kombat, but there’s nothing to suggest that developers have ruled out Injustice 3. In fact, with the launch of the DCU beginning with Creature Commandos and kicking into full gear with Superman, now may be the perfect time to announce and release Injustice 3.

Why Now Would Be the Perfect Time for an Injustice 3

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Why Now Would Be the Perfect Time for an Injustice 3

With poor sales supposedly impacting Mortal Kombat 1’s future and new developments in the DCU, now may be a great time for Injustice 3.

The Injustice series is only two games strong, but it has a wealth of depth for fans to explore. This is in part thanks to an incredibly expansive comic series that was released alongside both games. One can assume that a potential Injustice 3 game would release alongside its own comic series, and this may give it the legs to be a valuable asset for the upcoming DCU. DCU higher-ups have already hinted at canon video games becoming a part of the universe’s roll-out, and this immediately brings Injustice to mind, considering its two releases are some of the highest profile DC video games. However, one does have to consider if a relationship between Injustice and the DCU would be as mutually beneficial as it seems.

With the DCU having an Elseworlds category for films set in different universes, perhaps the easiest approach would be to treat Injustice 3 like an Elseworlds property.

The DCU is Ushering In a New Era

The DCU is the current nomenclature for DC Comics’ latest attempt at constructing a cinematic universe. DC has had some decisively bad luck on the big screen in the past, though there are some gems that were able to stand out. With James Gunn now at the helm, the DCU has a clear intention to make up for the mistakes that arose from the relative lack of organization in the DCEU.

James Gunn directed the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, as well as The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. The former consists of some of the most widely beloved comic book movies to come out of Marvel Studios, so it’s no surprise that he would be tapped as a visionary leader for this sort of project. The DCU will soon move full steam ahead with the release of Superman in July 2025, which is a make-or-break project for the universe as a whole.

Why Injustice 3 Directly Connecting to the DCU is Highly Unlikely

If the DCU is going to succeed, it’s going to need to keep a positive reputation for its characters among general audiences. Naturally, the broad appeal of Injustice makes it the perfect candidate to help with this effort. However, the biggest strength of this potential connection may also be the biggest weakness: that being the two universes’ shared focus on Superman.

Injustice takes place in an alternate reality in which Superman has become an evil dictator that rules the world with an iron fist. This is a remarkably different tone from the optimism that defines David Corenswet’s Superman, and which James Gunn seems to be focusing on in the DCU as a whole. If anything, the tone of Injustice could even be perceived as too similar to the bleak world fans were exposed to in the early days of the DCEU, back when that universe was at its most controversial.

Why Injustice Still Deserves Another Chance

While this makes Injustice seem tonally incompatible with the future of the DCU, this could make a revival of the franchise just as worthwhile. If the Superman of the DCU is going to be more reflective of the enduring hope at the heart of the character, there is no better way to emphasize this than by contrasting it with his polar opposite. By continuing the Injustice storyline, DCEU fans interested in the dark, gritty Superman that was teased in Batman vs. Superman would have something to enjoy. Similarly, comic book fans who prefer a more traditional Superman will be getting a faithful adaptation on the big screen in a matter of months. By releasing Injustice 3 and Superman close together, two versions of the Man of Steel that are polar opposites from one another would be presented, showing the depth of the iconic character and allowing DC to have its cake and eat it too.

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