Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was one of the biggest success stories in gaming in 2024. Arriving well over a decade after its predecessor, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was among last year’s most critically acclaimed games and it also attracted more than six million players across its first few months of release. Its success also saw it earn some big nominations – Best Action Game and Best Multiplayer – at The Game Awards 2024.
The game’s massive success has naturally been great news for developer Saber Interactive, who is sure to be even more in demand to work with. The developer is already feeling this in a big way, as recent reports claim that Saber Interactive is currently working on a new game based on a “tentpole” IP from one of the biggest toy and entertainment companies in the business, Hasbro. While the publisher has a wealth of IP to pull from, there’s a very strong case to base the next game on one of Hasbro’s biggest and most versatile franchises: Transformers.
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Transformers One Proves The Movies Work Better Without Humans
Transformers One shows that not having humans in the middle of the fight makes the war between the robots that much more interesting.
Saber Interactive’s Hasbro Collaboration Should Transform And Roll Out
Transformers Hasn’t Had A Major New Game In A Long Time
While the Transformers franchise has been one of the most important ones in Hasbro’s portfolio, it’s worth pointing out that the franchise has not gotten a brand-new game in a very long time. While the Michael Bay-directed film series received games based on the first three films, movie-based tie-ins are a much rarer sight in today’s gaming market. None of the four live-action Transformers films released since 2014 received movie tie-in games of their own, unless one counts 2014’s Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, a game in the Transformers: Cybertron lineup that also served as a cross-over with the live-action film series.
To date, the last major Transformers title released across multiple platforms was Transformers: Devastation in 2015, an Activision-published game developed by PlatinumGames. A few smaller Transformers games published by the family-friendly Outright Games have snuck their way out since, but no Transformers game with some level of prestige has been made since Devastation. Saber has the perfect opportunity to create a new Transformers game that proves the franchise is truly more than meets the eye.
Transformers One Could Be The Blueprint For A New Game
Saber Interactive also has a great place to start with the Transformers license, as the franchise has just received a brand-new critically acclaimed film. 2024 saw the release of Transformers One, a CGI-animated film that served as an origin story for the characters fans would come to know as Optimus Prime and Megatron. It was one of 2024’s most well-received animated films and a movie that proved faithful for longtime fans of the Transformers lineage.
Of course, it’s worth pointing out that the film underperformed a bit at the box office, enough that Hasbro announced it would stop co-financing films based on its properties and leave the funding to outside studios. Still, there’s plenty of hope for a sequel to this film, and a new game based on it could be a great place for that to happen. Furthermore, bringing the story of Transformers One to another medium could help give the film some life beyond its theatrical release and help it find a larger audience than what it had in theaters.
Saber has the perfect opportunity to create a new Transformers game that proves the franchise is truly more than meets the eye.
Transformers’ Versatility Makes It Perfect For A Video Game
Out of all of Hasbro’s IP, Transformers just makes so much sense to turn into a video game. It’s proven to be one of Hasbro’s most versatile franchises, being adapted across films, TV shows, video games, and toys while still maintaining an appeal to both kids and adults alike. What’s more, Transformers is an action-packed series, which is why it makes a lot of sense for Saber Interactive to pursue a game in the series coming off an action game like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.
Neither Saber nor Hasbro have confirmed what IP this upcoming game will be based on, with the only word being that it will be based on a “tentpole” IP. Even so, it makes a lot of sense for Saber to bring Transformers back guns blazing with a brand-new title. Here’s hoping Saber’s new game will “Transform, and roll out” to massive success and revitalize the franchise’s footprint in the gaming world.
Third-Person Shooter
Hack and Slash
- Released
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September 9, 2024
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Focus Entertainment