Marvel Games confirms VR ambitions

We already have Batman in 3D, and now it sounds like Marvel’s roster of superhero IP could be preparing to dive into virtual reality.

We did a deep dive in looking at the [VR] space towards the end of last year, and it offers some pretty incredible opportunities, in terms of delivering really cool experiences,” Marvel’s senior vice president of games and innovation Jay Ong told GameSpot.

Believe me, we’re not shying away from it. Absolutely expect some announcements in VR, that’s something we’re really excited about. I think our fans are going to go crazy. The things we’re doing there are absolutely amazing.

We see VR in the same way we see the other platforms in terms of if you want to do something, you need to do something truly amazing. We think if we do something there, it shouldn’t be just for the novelty of it. It should be something that defines the platform, that defines the experience.

Certainly we’re looking to build when Spider-man comes out, it’ll be one of the best games on the platform, and when Avengers comes out, it’ll be one of the best games on those platforms. We think our efforts in VR will be the same thing.”

Ong also stressed that in the same way that Marvel’s games business has been given the license to deviate from film and comic sources and do its own thing.

We’re absolutely stand alone,” he assured. When I started at Marvel, there was this chance to reboot the business; to start from scratch. One of the key pillars we strived for was to use our games as a driver of the brand, certainly, and as a creator of original IP. So we strive very hard to make sure our games have really cool storylines that are wholly original.

You know, Spider-man’s costume in the [2017 Spider-Man] game, for instance, is original, right? It’s neither the theatrical costume nor is it from the comic books. The white spider design is totally original. We’ve come a long way. I think we used to be a support unit; now we’re big, not as big as theatrical or TV, but we’re growing.”