Nearly four years after Electronic Arts announced a partnership with Marvel to develop an Iron Man game, leaked gameplay footage has offered a glimpse into the project helmed by EA Motive. The unearthed footage, appearing to originate from an early development build, showcases an action-oriented adventure that captures the speed and power associated with Tony Stark's armored alter ego.
The leaked material features early cinematic scenes and character models, including Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Obadiah Stane, and Henry Pym. Players can also expect to encounter familiar adversaries from Iron Man's rogues' gallery, such as Madame Masque and Iron Monger, with some characters like Ultron and Yellowjacket also teased. These portrayals seem to lean closer to their Marvel Comics origins than their Marvel Cinematic Universe counterparts.
While the setting for the game is primarily Chicago, contrasting with the New York City locale often associated with Iron Man, the footage also indicates travel to other locations, including Japan and a SHIELD Helicarrier. This broader scope suggests an expansive world for players to explore.
Anticipated features include a variety of Iron Man suits and specialized weaponry, with Tony Stark shown customizing armor. The customization mechanics appear to draw inspiration from Resident Evil's inventory management and Dead Space's node-based suit upgrades, presenting a system where various components and boosters are integrated onto a circuit board.
EA Motive's experience with the Dead Space remake and Star Wars Squadrons seems to inform the game's blend of weapon-based combat and aerial dogfighting. Despite the lack of official updates since the game's announcement in September 2022, the leaked footage presents an impressive, albeit unpolished, vision for the Iron Man title.
Electronic Arts and EA Motive have not yet announced a release date or window for the Iron Man game. Considering the development timeline and potential to align with future Marvel events, a release in 2027 is a possibility, though this remains speculative. The game follows previous Iron Man video game iterations, including Sega's 2008 title and the 2020 VR experience.