Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, The Odyssey, has launched a tie-in video game on the Roblox platform. Titled "The Odyssey: Defy the Gods," the game is a free-to-play survival sailing adventure that aims to serve as an official companion to the film.
The game tasks players with navigating the ancient oceans, managing a crew, rationing supplies, and appeasing the gods to ensure safe passage home. Gameplay involves scavenging islands for resources and crew members, enduring storms at sea, and solving puzzles. "The Odyssey: Defy the Gods" is rated 18+ for occasional and mild depictions of fear and violence.
Players can experience the game solo or with friends. While the game has garnered over 140,000 visits on its official Roblox page, active player counts are currently below 100.
This is not the first time Nolan has leveraged video game platforms for his films. In 2020, the trailer for his science fiction film Tenet premiered within Fortnite. This was followed by an in-game Q&A session with the film's star, John David Washington, and a "Movie Nite" event where players could watch Nolan's films like Batman Begins, Inception, or The Prestige within the game's virtual world, depending on their region.
Despite Nolan's known advocacy for theatrical releases, he has expressed that he does not object to audiences watching his films on smaller screens, even mobile devices. He has compared this to his own early experiences discovering films through lower-quality formats, suggesting that any engagement fostering a love for cinema is valuable.
"The Odyssey," adapted from Homer's epic poem, is Nolan's first film since 2023's "Oppenheimer." The movie stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and features a cast including Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Charlize Theron. The film is scheduled for release in theaters on July 17.