With the recent news that Keanu Reeves, Carrie Ann Moss, and Lana Wachowski will be making a return for Matrix 4, the first film in the series in almost sixteen years, many are wondering when or if a new Matrix game will follow. We'll look at the history of the games that followed their respective films and list the reasons why it might or might not come to pass.
The franchise got its start with The Matrix in 1999, a film that would earn $171, 479,930 within the United States, making it the fifth highest-grossing film during that year. The film's success didn't end there, as it would go on to earn $464.5 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of all time. While the first film's success was impressive, The Matrix Reloaded would put its earnings numbers to shame as it would earn $742.1 million dollars worldwide upon its release in May of 2003. With many expecting the next film to come a few years later, both critics and consumers alike were surprised when the third film, The Matrix Revolutions, was released just six months after the prior film. Despite the short amount of time between the first and second films, The Matrix Revolutions still managed to do well, earning $427.3 million worldwide. It was later revealed to the public that the two films were shot at the same time and that live-action sequences for the first video game related to the franchise, Enter the Matrix, were also filmed during this time.
The Beginning of The Games
Enter The Matrix – May 14, 2003
Released within the week following The Matrix Reloaded, Enter the Matrix was the first video game related to the series. While it would have been easy to simply use pieces of the films as cutscenes, The Wachowski Sisters instead choose to film one hour's worth of footage specifically for the game. Not only that, but the film's fight scene choreographer, Yuen Woo-Ping, would oversee the production and use motion capture in order to accurately depict each character's fighting style. While the game received mixed reviews from critics, it would go on to sell 1.9 million copies in the US and 5 million worldwide, earning $58 million.
The Matrix Online – March 22, 2005
The Matrix Online was MMORPG that was first developed by Monolith Productions, then Sony Interactive Entertainment after Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment decided to sell the rights to the game. While the game follows aspects of the Matrix universe, it also continues the story past the main films and The Animatrix. The game featured three major classes (Coder, Hacker, and Operative,) and gave players the ability to alter these classes by either loading in their own abilities or purchasing specific abilities in-game. While the game saw success, Sony would ultimately end service support for the game in June of 2009.
The Matrix: Path of Neo – November 7, 2005
Unlike The Matrix Online, the third and last title in the video game series was both written and directed by The Wachowski Sisters. Additionally, unlike Enter The Matrix, there wouldn't be any special filming done. Instead, players would assume the role of Neo as he completed events that took place in the films. As for combat, the decision was made to fashion Neo's fighting style and abilities after those found in the first film. The game's reception was mixed, but it was generally acknowledged as a better game than Enter the Matrix.
Why Another Game Is a Good Idea
Given the limitations placed on the games by both hardware and software, modern consoles may finally give the games a platform where they can thrive. The rise in demand for VR compatible games has also led to many gaming companies altering their systems in order to properly run the devices. This means that the next Matrix game would have a great chance within VR. While stunning visuals and improved textures would certainly help the game along, the use of VR seems to be inevitable. After all, Neo enters the Matrix through a similar device, and what better way to bring to life the world of the Matrix than through a completely immersive, easily altered, virtual environment?
Why Another Game is a Bad Idea
While there are still many fans of the films, the influx of similar games over the years could serve to undermine the performance of the next game. Additionally, the cost of game production has gone up considerably, meaning that the risk to any game studio would be far greater than it was sixteen years ago.
Conclusion
Though it is unlikely that a standard game will do well against many AAA titles, it's very possible for such a game to have tremendous success inside the VR universe. Virtual Reality is all about immersion and many games that have been developed for the platform have struggled with this. The Matrix films did well because they made the Matrix universe believable on the big screen. If that ability can be transferred into the video game world, then the sky is certainly the limit. The in-depth storyline is already there, they just have to create an engine that truly mimics the universe.