When Should Long-Running Game Franchises Switch It Up vs. Stick to Their Roots?

The video game industry is a tough place to find success. Some indie games that have been in development for years and feature hundreds of innovative ideas might never grab mainstream attention, drowned out by the repetitive franchises that so often reemerge. Likewise, there are those well-known brands that take genuine creative risks and are punished for them due to fans not wanting change. However, occasionally, there’s success to be found in looking for alternative avenues to explore, and countless franchises have seen the benefits of that. There’s also a school of thought that franchises should always remain the same, to honor their rich legacy and protect what got them to the dance in the first place.

Needless to say, the video game landscape is utterly unpredictable, and there’s a case to be made that franchises are best ignored in favor of indie titles. But there’s also a debate to be had about continuing to back big brands, in the hopes that they will keep pushing technology and creative innovation forward. There’s no right or wrong answer, but it is clear that some long-running franchises will meet criticisms of their own simply because they have been in the public eye for a long time. So, for those franchises, what’s the best route to taking on criticism and ensuring that audiences remain entertained? Well, those two choices outlined, change versus continuity, form the basis of this discourse.

Franchises Have To Turn A Corner To Remain Relevant

Change Can Be Both Poorly & Excitingly Received

• Space Invaders is officially the longest-running video game franchise, beginning in 1978.

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Video Game Adaptations Fans Need

With recent adaptations like Fallout, Mario, and The Last of Us, it’s never been a better time to be a video game fan and see your favorite game as a movie or TV show. I still desperately want an HBO BioShock or Red Dead Redemption series. Which video game do you most want to see adapted?

Diving into that problem further, franchises that have been around for a while must find ways to remain relevant. There might be talk that they overpower the indie games that have so much potential, but to ensure that they remain competitive, they must continue to defend their reputation. It’s no secret that some of the largest and longest-running video game franchises in the history of the industry have gone through multiple incarnations.

They’ve had to evolve over time, and while some remain true to their roots throughout, others are completely unrecognizable from where they started. There are a few specific problems facing these franchises that ensure that audiences might be asking for more. The first is fatigue. If a series has been around for too long, players might actually get bored with it altogether. There’s a risk that they’ve seen the characters, mechanics, world, or concept a few too many times, and there’s not a great deal of motivation to purchase a new version of something they already own.

Part of that fatigue can also be dialed down to mimicry within the industry. If something is prosperous, other studios try to copy those ideas, meaning the industry is overrun by similar-looking titles. For instance, open-world gaming is a particular obsession right now, with most major narrative-based franchises ignoring tighter gameplay levels that also remain popular.

Another problem that some studios face when developing ongoing franchises is the lack of ideas. If something has been around for a while, it might seem like a struggle to come up with fresh content that continues to excite. Something like Assassin’s Creed doesn’t necessarily have this issue, because there are always new time periods and cultures to call upon. But for a game like Battlefield, there are only so many updates that can be made to a military title, while still trying to keep a franchise relevant.

This doesn’t call into question the fatigue the audience might feel, but rather the lack of innovation from creatives themselves. Some franchises needed to end a long time ago because they reached the end of their natural life. But, with the levels of cash involved, simply dropping a title might not be the best idea. Right now, the industry seems to be favoring standalone expansions to prior titles, to limit the need for complete reinvention. But perhaps, the only way to counter the fatigue of the audience and the repetitiveness of the creative process is to take bold action.

Bold Action Is Often Rewarded

Switching It Up Could Be The Best Route Forward

• The Mario franchise has the most titles of all time.

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What is the Most Unique Video Game Mechanic?

There have been some truly great, inventive video games over the years that have pushed the medium forward with unique mechanics. One of the most popular examples is the Portal series, which introduced a whole new world of physics-based puzzle systems. Then there’s SUPERHOT, the VR FPS title where time only progresses forward when the player physically moves. Another classic example is the Psycho Mantis fight in Metal Gear Solid, which broke the fourth wall in multiple ways, including having the player switch the controller input to the slot for player two. What are some of your favorite unique video game mechanics, and which do you think is the most unique of all?

One school of thought suggests that the only way to reinvigorate a series is to completely switch things up and go in a new direction. That might mean bringing an overhaul to the gameplay mechanics, changing the lead protagonist, or perhaps even changing the genre completely. The Prince of Persia series is a really good example to look at. Just compare Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown to The Rogue Prince of Persia, and it’s evident that from graphics to gameplay, there are some stark differences.

The Mario franchise has done the same, with Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. WarioWare, Super Mario Bros., and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games somehow all launching from the original Donkey Kong title. Audiences like it when they see a familiar name, but are offered something brand new. Star Wars gaming has always done this, with first-person shooters, flight simulators, and action-adventure RPGs all falling under the same umbrella. They say variety is the spice of life and there’s always going to be a renewed sense of interest in a title shedding its past and creating a surprising plan for the future.

A franchise should only take these steps under a few key scenarios. The first is stagnation. If a franchise is starting to fall off, then it might need an injection of new ideas to pivot to something completely different. That only works if the problems can be pinpointed though. There’s no point bringing in new characters and narratives if it was the gameplay that was the issue and, likewise, fans might enjoy a style of play and hate a story, meaning it’s time to bring in revolutionary different arcs and protagonists.

A franchise can also benefit from a complete overhaul if it’s being brought into the modern world, based on a title from the past. The work that went into changing God of War is a perfect example, with this well-liked franchise becoming a cinematic icon with a few major tweaks. The continuity is the same, but the execution has evolved. Of course, there are always those gimmicks like celebrity cameos or microtransactions as seen in the Arkham franchise, that are pitched as creative new avenues of exploration, but really just limit what fans liked about prior titles.

There’s also the notion that even when a series is doing well, constant change removes the fear of fatigue altogether, but this is a risky strategy. Ultimately, switching it up is the best action if the problems of the past can be easily identified and the moves being made are actually better than what came before.

Sticking To A Brand’s Roots Can Encourage A Sense Of Nostalgia

There’s A Reason These Names Rose To Popularity

• The list of highest-selling franchises of all time includes Mario, Pokémon, Tetris, Fifa, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Minecraft.

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What’s the Best Movie Based on a Video Game?

Video game movies seemed to be cursed for a number of years. No adaptation could manage to do something truly great. However, The Super Mario Bros. Movie surpassed all expectations. It brought the iconic Nintendo property to life and was packed with Easter eggs for long-time fans. The story was solid, the animation was great, and despite the early backlash, Chris Pratt did a perfectly fine job as the voice of Mario.

The other school of thought concerns sticking with the roots of a franchise. Continuity in gameplay and character is very important for loyal fan bases, and some will attach themselves to a series because of those earlier titles. To change everything that made those games popular might be controversial, and there are plenty of series that have barely shifted from their original positions. Some, like Assassin’s Creed, have seen monumental changes happen and decided to go back to the beginning.

In that case, fans were crying out for the stealth of the first few releases to be focused on, with Assassin’s Creed Mirage taking a back-to-basics approach to counter the ever-expanding array of gameplay styles that predated that release. Something like Pokémon by comparison has found a formula that works, from choosing a starter Pokémon to filling up the Pokédex and competing in Gym Battles. It wouldn’t seem right to change any of that, and the closer the series sticks to its roots, the better.

So franchises should only take this approach if they have a unique angle that’s worth protecting, a loyal fan base that loves the run for a specific reason, and evidence that the formula is working. A franchise could also go back to basics if it has completely lost sight of what worked to begin with. Making these decisions is certainly not an easy process and there will be many studios out there that do not know whether to carry on the way things are or to make significant shifts that could damage the brand forever.

But whether it’s a repetition of the series’ success, or a plan to reinvent the wheel, video game franchises ultimately need to be given a great deal of thought, to ensure audiences remain engaged. Simply stamping a branded name onto something isn’t enough anymore, especially with all those incredible indie titles ready to pick up new fans.