Currently, very little official information is known about EA’s Black Panther game, as the company has been tight-lipped about the project since its announcement in 2023. However, a leaker has recently provided insight into the game, which is being developed by new studio Cliffhanger. A number of interesting tidbits appeared online, including the usage of an over-the-shoulder perspective, real-world African martial arts, and choices that have a significant impact on the narrative. Players will even be able to choose their own Black Panther, with options ranging from Shuri and T’Challa to M’Baku and Killmonger.
While Cliffhanger’s Black Panther project certainly sounds ambitious, it is not the only love Wakanda’s king has received in the world of video games. An appearance in Fortnite, a leading role in the upcoming Marvel 1943, and his own expansion for Marvel’s Avengers are all recent outings for the character. While T’Challa was simply one of many Marvel characters unlockable within Fortnite, and the jury is still out on Marvel 1943‘s Azzuri since it has yet to release, players fully experienced Marvel’s Avengers‘ free War for Wakanda DLC years ago. It had its share of pros and cons, but fortunately, one of its flaws – environmental variety – will apparently not be shared by Cliffhanger’s Black Panther.
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War For Wakanda’s Lack of Environmental Variety Held it Back
While War for Wakanda offered inspired performances from Kratos actor Christopher Judge and the always-passionate Debra Wilson, it continued the game’s struggles with environmental variety. Every mission took place within Wakanda’s jungle, and while said jungle was visually stunning thanks to its temples and foliage, it felt like players barely got to scratch the surface of the fictional country. The final level of the expansion’s story even showcased the city in the distance as players fought to keep Klaw from breaking the Vibranium shield protecting it, taunting players with a flashy environment they never got to see up close. Considering that Wakanda has become one of Marvel’s most memorable locations, this was a genuine shame, so it’s good news that – if leaks are to be believed – EA’s singleplayer Black Panther title will apparently be dodging this criticism completely.
The only peak at Wakanda’s modern architecture came from a throne room hub area. While interesting, players never got a chance to fight within the city’s buildings or on its streets.
EA’s Black Panther Game Will Likely Showcase Wakanda’s Full Potential
As part of a large batch of leaks from @TheGhostOfHope, Black Panther fans were given the reassuring news that they will see more of Wakanda than just its jungle. Specifically, the leaker – who is known for regularly sharing early and accurate info on the Call of Duty series – stated that players will get to explore “cities” and “savannahs” with “unique cultures and characters.” This brief description is extremely promising, as it suggests that there will be a healthy mixture of environments and interesting NPCs to interact with inside of them. The savannahs could be home to plenty of wildlife and can take advantage of Black Panther’s super-speed, while the cities in particular could fill a void Marvel’s Avengers left empty.
Assuming that this information is accurate, gamers will not be staring longingly at the Wakandan cityscape like they did in Marvel’s Avengers. Being able to ascend afrofuturistic buildings with T’Challa’s claws should allow for some exciting traversal opportunities, and seeing all the impressive tech designed by the Wakandans is something no adaptation of the character should miss out on. Though the MCU will be exploring its version of Wakanda further through the Eyes of Wakanda animated series, Cliffhanger can put its own spin on this setting and cover more ground than a live-action adaptation ever could. By letting players inspect everything from museums and markets to labs and homes, while also offering combat opportunities within the city itself, EA’s Black Panther game could thoroughly cover the parts of Wakanda that Marvel’s Avengers missed out on.