A new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is currently in development, and it will adapt the 2020 graphic novel, The Last Ronin. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been beloved pop culture icons for over three decades. Originally created in the 1980s as a parody of the superhero genre, the turtles quickly became a sensation and spawned numerous adaptations across different media. The latest addition to this list is the aforementioned video game adaption.
The Last Ronin is a darker and more mature take on the Ninja Turtles franchise. The story is set in a dystopian future where only one of the turtles has survived. The lone surviving turtle seeks justice for his fallen brothers and father figure Master Splinter.
The Last Ronin video game adaptation promises to be an authentic representation of the comic series, according to Doug Rosen, senior vice president for games and emerging media at Paramount Global, the rights holders for the franchise. As revealed by Polygon, the game will also differ from other TMNT games in several other ways, including the fact that it will primarily be a single-character title, with a focus on the quest for vengeance. It will be an ambitious, AAA title, in the vein of Sony Santa Monica's recent God of War games. Rosen also hinted that other characters could be playable in flashback sequences, but the primary action will center on the only surviving turtle. This is in contrast to other TMNT games, where players typically control all four turtles and their allies.
This adaption is being developed by an unnamed studio, and is a few years away from release according to Rosen, who also hinted at the possibility of developing multiple TMNT games aimed at different age groups, with The Last Ronin game targeting a more mature audience. This is in line with Paramount's recent efforts to expand the TMNT franchise beyond the usual fare of cartoon shows and merchandise. The publisher also recently announced that it is collaborating with Activision to bring Shredder into the Call of Duty franchise via Warzone.
This game is also the latest example of Paramount choosing to avoid the traditionally seen more lighthearted depiction of the turtles. The franchise did start out as a somewhat darker version of what we are familiar with today in the original comic book, but it remains to be seen how long-time turtles fans will react to this new interpretation. However, it may bring some solace to those who have been crying out for Rocksteady to make a TMNT game for over a decade, even though the Batman: Arkham studio isn't involved. The choice to adapt this version also makes it clear that Paramount is willing to take risks with the franchise and explore new avenues of storytelling.
Source: Polygon