Get ready to become “Baba Yaga”. Saber Interactive announced during Sony’s State of Play show on Thursday that a John Wick game is in development. Saber confirmed that the game, adapted from Lionsgate’s John Wick movie, will be a single-player, third-person action game that will see players experience a chapter in the life of the iconic assassin played by Keanu Reeves. This AAA game is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.
Saber said in a statement that the as-yet-unnamed John Wick game will embody the series’ signature visceral and fast-paced “shootout” combat style. Crucially, John Wick series director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves were both involved in the game’s production.
Reeves, who has already made his mark on the gaming world as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077, will reprise his role as Wick in the game, lending his likeness and voice to the character. In the canon of film stories, Reeves was last seen in John Wick: Chapter 4 . As Saber said in its announcement: “Yes. We think he’s back.”
John Wick game story and settings
Saber said the game will be “tailored for mature audiences,” hinting that the game will follow the violent lines of the film series. The developer says it will announce an official title, release date, and details on the game’s story and setting at a later date. However, Saber’s post on X suggests that the game will serve as a prequel story before the events of the first John Wick movie.
“Before cars. Before dogs. Before he was Yaga Baba,” the studio said on X. In a PlayStation blog post about the game, Saber said its next project “takes place during a specific period within the John Wick timeline and contributes to the series’ vast and rich lore.” Stahelski and Lionsgate are working with Saber on the game’s story.
Saber said on its website that the new, untitled John Wick game will be set in an original narrative in the John Wick timeline, predating Mission Impossible. “In the meantime, it will expand the series’ lore with familiar characters that fans have come to know and love, as well as compelling new characters created specifically for this title,” the studio added.
John Wick game will feature “shootout” action combat
Photo credit: Sabre/Lionsgate
John Wick game ‘Gunfight’ combat
The John Wick game will feature cinematic “shootout” combat that blends third-person shooter gameplay with hand-to-hand combat.
“The combat style feels like authentic John Wick action scenes taken directly from the film,” game director Jesus Iglesias said in the PlayStation Blog announcement. “Everything is designed to faithfully emulate the cinematic experience in a meaningful, fully playable way. To achieve this, we are developing a unique combat system from the ground up to ensure we maintain a believable take on John Wick’s signature style.”
“We are working closely with Sabre’s dedicated team to develop a game that captures unparalleled action, brand-defining fight choreography, immersive world-building and cinematic authenticity,” Jenefer Brown, president of global products and experiences for Lionsgate, said in a statement.
John Wick game will feature atmospheric, neon-lit environments
Photo credit: Sabre/Lionsgate
The game will also feature immersive, neon-lit neo-noir environments and driving experiences that Saber calls “the ultimate John Wick gaming experience.”
The studio also released a trailer for the game, which includes a cinematic introduction and gameplay footage shot on PS5. In the trailer, Reeves plays Wick, showing off his nimble “shooting” moves while fighting waves of enemies.
The untitled John Wick game will be released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.
