Marvel's Blade is one of those video games that you just can't help but be desperate to learn more about. Following its reveal in 2023, this new Blade game has been relatively under-wraps, although a new release from the developers behind Dishonored 2 and Deathloop is always worth waiting for.
That's why Marvel's Blade is among the most anticipated upcoming Xbox Series X games. While it's unlikely that this third-person, single-player experience will land as a new game of 2025, it is still worth keeping on your radar. So while we wait for more Marvel's Blade news – the latest piece included a first tease of the in-game character model – let's get you caught up with everything we know so far about the adventure.
Marvel's Blade release date speculation
Xbox Game Studios is yet to set a firm Marvel's Blade release date or window. When the team at Arkane Lyon revealed the upcoming Marvel game back at The Game Awards 2023, the team said that it was going "silent for a while" as it moved through the next phase of production. Which is all to say that I'd be shocked to see this one appear before 2026.
Marvel's Blade platforms
Marvel's Blade is coming to PC and Xbox Series X, and will be available from day one through the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service. It's unclear whether a Marvel's Blade PS5 release is being targeted, although a striking number of titles from the Xbox Game Studios group are shedding Xbox exclusivity right now – the latest is Bethesda's Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which is due to land on PS5 in 2025.
Marvel's Blade trailer
The first Marvel's Blade trailer dropped as part of the Game Awards 2023. It's a cinematic affair that essentially gives us a small snapshot of the setting and our first introduction to Blade as a character. It's a mood piece designed to give you a sense of the vibe Arkane is shooting for, and it's exceptionally effective.
Marvel's Blade gameplay
Arkane is yet to showcase any of the Marvel's Blade gameplay, although we do have some first details. For starters, this experience will be a strictly single-player affair, with players controlling Blade from a third-person perspective. This is a big shift for the studio, with the best Arkane games typically operating from a first-person angle – Dishonored, Deathloop, and Prey, for example.
Still, even with this big shift in gameplay styles, it's likely that Marvel's Blade will leverage Arkane's immersive sim and snappy combat tendencies – Blade is both a master of stealth and deception, as well as an expert martial artist and competent gunslinger. "As a kid of mixed origins, I felt a special connection to Blade – a hero with a dual heritage himself," said Dinga Bakaba, Game Director, Arkane Lyon. "The opportunity to put our spin on this character is a dream of mine and a challenge that our team embraces with a passion. We couldn’t be happier to put players in Blade’s boots, as he becomes the champion of my hometown of Paris, one stake at a time."
Marvel's Blade story
Marvel's Blade will feature an original story that's more 'mature' in tone that we have come to expect from the best Marvel games released in recent history. Arkane is looking beyond the best Blade stories from the comics for this new adventure, although the studio has confirmed that Eric Brooks is the Daywalker we'll be taking command of.
Speaking to how Arkane is putting its spin on the legendary character, studio art director Sebastien Mitton says: "From his trench coat to his iconic sunglasses, Blade is a slick, stylish, and driven character. This project is the perfect opportunity to push Arkane’s art style into an even more modern and bold territory. The essence of our work lives at the junction of impactful ideas and innovative know-how."
Marvel's Blade setting
The Marvel's Blade setting is confirmed as "the heart of Paris" which is trapped in some sort of vampiric emergency. Little else is known about the setting, although we're expecting that the legendary Daywalker will be navigating a quarantined section of the city as they dance "between the warm society of the living and the rushing power of the undead."
