Adaptation of video games to the television screen

07 Abr Adaptation of video games to the television screen

In recent weeks, Netflix unveiled the trailer for the new animated series Devil May Cry, based on a historic Capcom video game. This isn’t the first time the Californian platform has released a product of this nature; however, given the game’s popularity, as well as the impact of previous Netflix adaptations, this event has become news.

As we mentioned, a video game adaptation into a series (or film) is nothing new. In fact, it’s becoming common for this type of entertainment to inspire other products from a wide variety of fields. We’ve already seen free online slot machines that share elements with their themes. We’ve also seen clothing and accessories that base their aesthetics on characters or titles. The same goes for comics and literature.

In the case of television and film fiction, there’s been an abundance of releases lately. This shouldn’t be surprising; after all, this is prime material for productions, as it provides its own plot and protagonists. On the other hand, it consists of well-known and attractive plots for a large audience, that of “gamers,” who are a more than interesting target audience.

Netflix was one of the pioneers in introducing major video game-based titles to its catalog. Castlevania, Dota: Dragon’s Blood, and The Witcher are good examples of this initiative. But it was Arcane that managed to create an unprecedented impact. We’re not just talking about the adaptation of an extraordinarily popular game. It’s also a sublime production, sweeping awards and audience acclaim.

Following this success, there have been many new developments, including the new Devil May Cry project. This type of initiative has also been a success among competitors. The Last of Us and Gran Turismo, on Max, are well-known examples. Fallout and Secret Level, on Prime Video, are also well-known examples. But, in all cases, there is a pattern: products are now extremely carefully curated. It’s important to emphasize this because they may be better or worse received, but the projects are treated as serious productions.

Netflix quickly understood that this source of inspiration needed to be properly exploited. And, without forgetting its other, more conventional in-house productions, even those vying for major awards, its love affair with video games has only grown. It’s even been extended to include these entertainment offerings, completely free for its subscribers. They are well aware that digital entertainment isn’t limited to audiovisual products and that there is an audience they must satisfy at all costs to maintain their leadership in their sector.

Now it’s the turn of Devil May Cry, a series inspired by a saga that began in the early 2000s and is about demon hunters. There have been several installments and it has even been adapted into an anime series before. Of course, this time, the new production will have Netflix’s personal touch. And, from what can be seen in the trailer, it seems it will be very spectacular and somewhat mischievous, while respecting the spirit of the original concept.

And, in the meantime, we can wait for new projects, for any of the platforms. Among the most popular are God of War, The Legend of Zelda, Minecraft, and Metal Gear Solid.