Video game developers are storytellers. Once in a while, the stories in video games are so captivating and charismatic that they become instantly loved by players everywhere and sometimes end up turning into internationally famous franchises.
It’s, therefore, quite common for video games to be adapted either to the big screen or to television, and sometimes both. Keep reading to get to know a bit more about what we consider to be the most iconic video-game-to-screen transitions.
The Evolution of Gaming: AI at the Forefront
The transition to TV and movies is only one of how video games get a new look throughout their lifespan. AI has arguably been the most groundbreaking tech to impact the world of video games, transforming them in a way developers didn’t think was possible a few years ago. In fact, as shown by ExpressVPN’s blog piece, it’s not just that AI can enhance games but vice-versa. AI has used gaming as a training ground for its own development since its early days. Thanks to the few resources they require, video games like Gran Turismo and Minecraft are used to test and develop the power of machines against humans by having them play against each other, contributing to the advancement of AI technology.
In terms of the games we’re discussing today, a group of fans has taken on the mission to upgrade Resident Evil’s visuals, including the game’s famous Spencer Mansion, using AI. As for Tomb Raider, a video by YouTuber Foxmaster uses AI to show the character of Lara Croft as self-aware and responsive.
As for today’s discussion, movies and TV shows are probably the oldest way in which games have transcended their own world. So, without further ado, let’s look at some iconic content that video games have given us throughout the years.
Source: Unsplash
Resident Evil
Developer Capcom’s debut, Resident Evil, introduced us to the fictional town of Raccoon City and became a gaming phenomenon worldwide, with over 100 million copies sold.
The Japanese video game spawned a blockbuster movie series from 2002 to 2016, but didn’t stop there. After a 2021 reboot film called Welcome to Raccoon City and an animated miniseries from the same year called Infinite Darkness, Netflix developed a new TV show named Resident Evil last year.
The show was set years after the famous viral outbreak from the video game, but, to fans’ chagrin, it was canceled after its first season.
Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider is arguably one of the most iconic video games ever. Its debut in the 1990s launched the main character, Lara Croft, into instant stardom. The video game series has seen over 20 titles released, the most recent one being Tomb Raider: Reloaded, an action arcade game for iOS and Android devices.
Angelina Jolie started in the video game’s first screen adaptation in 2001 and its 2003 sequel until Alicia Vikander took on the role 15 years later. More recently, Netflix announced a Tomb Raider anime whose trailer is rumored to drop soon, as reported by GAMINGbible.
Source: Pexels
The Last of Us
The Last Of Us, an action-adventure video game first released in 2013, tells a post-apocalyptic story of a mutated fungus that takes over the United States.
Considered the best adaptation of a video game ever made in Empire Online’s review, the HBO series released in January of this year and started by Pedro Pascal was a huge hit right off the gate and surely the video game’s most famous and lucrative screen adaptation. The show is set decades after the events of the first video game, and it received abundant praise among critics.
Surely, other very famous video games have been adapted as movies and TV shows, but we think these three will stand the test of time thanks to their huge success in both formats.
