PlayStationhas been the home to a diverse offering of fantastic stories. The brand has built its reputation on single-player narrative-driven titles, and asPlayStationcontinues to evolve, its stories have gotten even stronger as a result. The legacy of PlayStation is truly impressive, and with franchises likeThe Last of UsandGod of Warunder its belt, that success continues.
The Last of UsandGod of Warhave been some of the company’s most successful exclusives, in general. These two series have further proven PlayStation’s ability to harbor well-crafted, story-driven games, and this growth has also birthed a variety of spin-offs. Newer franchiseslikeDeath StrandingandHorizoncarry this tradition forward, and if these series and other PlayStation exclusives want to continue their growth, looking toThe Last of UsandGod of War’s embrace of comic spin-offs might be the key.
The Last of Us and God of War Have Used Comic Books to Expand Their Lore
Comic Books Can Fill in the Gaps
Granted, there have been several PlayStation franchises that have had their own line of comic books, likeUncharted,Bloodborne, andRatchet & Clank, butThe Last of UsandGod of Warhave used this medium as a way to really dive deeper into its characters and worlds. Between the two, other PlayStation-exclusive studios could benefit from taking note of how these franchises go about fleshing out their stories beyond the games.
The Last of Us: American Dreams
AfterThe Last of Uslaunched, theLeft BehindDLC followed several months before that. However, before the DLC, there wasAmerican Dreams.American DreamsandLeft Behindare directly connected, as they both follow Ellie and her friend Riley before the events of the first game. Both givedeeper insight into Ellieand her life in the Boston quarantine zone, shining a brighter light on the franchise’s bleak post-apocalyptic world.
HBO’sThe Last of Usseries is currently underway.
God of War: Fallen God
This comic spin-off takes place between the events ofGod of War IIIandGod of War(2018). After defeating Zeus, Kratos sets off to escape his past, but that turns out to be a task far easier said than done. During his journey, he finds himself in Egypt, introducing an exciting new setting. This comic has even ignited speculation thatthe nextGod of Wargame will be set in Egypt. That remains to be seen, but regardless, the comic book is a fascinating look into Kratos' struggle against himself.
Santa Monica Studio has yet to confirm if the nextGod of Wartakes place in Egypt.
Three PlayStation Exclusives Are Begging for Comic Book Spin-Offs
In this day and age, game development can take a long time, and comic books could be the answer to expanding the lore of particularly large franchises.Death StrandingandGhost of Tsushima/Yoteicould be the perfect stage for such storytelling to be told. When it comes to the former, Hideo Kojima has already made it clear that he’s determined to expand the world through new mediums, likeDeath Stranding’s A24-produced spin-off film. With the latter, players could revisit Jin while also getting a deeper look into new protagonist Atsu.Helldivers 2’s lore is so action-packed and filled with great humor, comic writers would likely have a field day adapting the multiplayer shooter.
Ultimately, comic books are some of the best ways for games to be adapted into a new form while still maintaining their tone.PlayStation’s knack for great exclusivesis bound to continue, and while full-blown games are great, comic books could open the door for the company to broaden its storytelling capabilities.
