Arc System Works' newest game is rumored to be Godzilla Vs. Kong, a 2D fighting game from the same developer responsible for Dragon Ball FighterZ. If the rumor is to be believed, the game would logically tie into the film set to release in 2020.
The rumor comes from 4chan, which has a mixed history with regards to accuracy for leaks to film, television, and games. However, they have also recently revealed information for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield that was both detailed and accurate, so there is a case to made for the occasional authentic rumor being more fact than fiction.
If the leak is real, we will know soon enough during Microsoft’s E3 presentation on June 9th. The information also states that the game would release on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with a large roster of fighters:
- Anguirus
- Baragon
- Behemoth
- Destoroyah
- Gigan
- Godzilla (1954)
- Godzilla (2014)
- Jet Jaguar
- King Caesar
- King Ghidorah
- Kiryu
- Kong
- Mecha Godzilla Mk1
- MechaniKong
- Megalon
- Mothra
- Muto
- Orga
- Rodan
- Space Godzila
- Zilla
One needs to wonder how large of a market there is for a game like Godzilla vs. Kong, because previous installments of a similar nature in the Godzilla game universe have bombed from a critical and consumer perspective. The last game like this was Godzilla VS for the PS4 in 2014, which scored mainly 3-4 out of ten on most review sites, on average. Along the same theme, the most recent release of a film in the series, Godzilla: King of the Monsters seems to be underperforming at the box office. It is not exactly a box office bomb, but Hollywood studios are not keen on promoting projects tied to franchises that cannot justify their costs.
Still, one could make the case for any fighting to be successful, if the game itself is solid in its gameplay and mechanics, and Arc System Works is truly a developer with a proven history of competence. Die-hard fans of the Dragon Ball universe certainly looked forward to the release of Dragon Ball FighterZ, but few expected its success with a broader range of consumers and in the competitive esports scene to be so high.
If the rumors behind this game are true, we may be witnessing the rise of the next competitive fighting esports game.
That may be an overly-optimistic statement, but then again, we are only talking about a game that is not even confirmed to officially exist, so we can dream big in the meantime.