EA’s highly anticipated Black Panther game, first announced in July 2023, seems to be taking an ambitious turn towards an open-world format. The revelation comes from a recent job posting on the EA website for a Principal Sandbox Designer at Cliffhanger Studios, the team behind the upcoming game.
Cliffhanger Studios, a subsidiary of EA specifically created to develop the Black Panther game, appears to be doubling down on the immersive potential of the project. The job listing explicitly mentions the Black Panther game, indicating that the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the open-world experience.
The position entails collaborating closely with various departments to design and implement encounters, systems, and gameplay within the expansive and dynamic game world. It emphasizes the need for a profound understanding of technical design principles and a passion for crafting immersive sandbox experiences.
Kevin Stephens, the head of Cliffhanger Studios, had previously expressed their commitment to delivering an authentic Black Panther experience, emphasizing player agency and narrative control. The game aims to immerse players in the rich superhero sandbox of Wakanda, offering an epic world for fans to explore.
However, the news of an open-world Black Panther game has elicited mixed reactions from the gaming community. While many are intrigued by the prospect of exploring the fictional city of Wakanda, some express weariness with the saturation of open-world games in recent years.
Interestingly, this isn’t the only Black Panther project in the works at Marvel. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra promises a thrilling adventure with Steve Rogers and Azzuri battling Hydra Nazis in the streets of Paris. Moreover, Black Panther will feature as a playable character in the upcoming Marvel Rivals 6v6 shooter, adding to the anticipation surrounding the iconic superhero.
As anticipation builds for EA’s Black Panther game, players are left to ponder whether the shift towards an open-world format will enhance their experience or leave them on the fence. The game’s development continues to be closely watched by fans eager to step into the world of Wakanda and shape their own narrative within its borders.