Matt Damon, whose likeness now appears as a Fortnite skin promoting the recent film "The Odyssey," previously turned down a significant offer to feature in the 2008 game "The Bourne Conspiracy." His reasoning was a desire to shift the game away from its planned action-shooter format towards the puzzle-adventure style of the classic PC game Myst.
Damon recounted that he "lobbied hard" to make the Bourne game more akin to Myst, envisioning a title that would explore the character's amnesia and memory. He stated in a 2008 Boston Globe interview that the developers were "not interested" and proceeded with the game without his involvement. He reiterated this anecdote on the show "Hot Ones" in 2021, mentioning he was offered "a bunch of money" but ultimately found the developers unwilling to deviate from their original concept.
While Damon expressed interest in video games during a 2016 Reddit AMA, noting the advancements in graphics and VR and their potential impact on storytelling, he had not been approached for voice or motion capture work at that time. He stated he would be "totally into it" and was curious about how gaming might evolve storytelling, potentially merging with or influencing filmmaking.
His current appearance as a Fortnite skin marks his first official video game likeness. This development contrasts sharply with the industry's trajectory since 2016. Rather than focusing on narrative or authorial intent, major players in the gaming industry now emphasize user-generated content, AI, and the metaverse. Genres that foster emergent storytelling, such as survival and co-op games, have seen considerable growth, while story-driven RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 are often considered exceptions rather than the norm. The prominence of the TV adaptation of "Fallout" in recent years further illustrates a shift where media tie-ins often extend beyond traditional video game releases.