10 Video Game Reboots That Saved Dying Franchises
It took three tries, but Infinity Ward are back on top.
It's not easy to keep a video game franchise afloat. Unlike movies or TV, major titles in this industry are rarely outright retired, as they're inherently more malleable thanks to ever-changing approaches to game design and new revolutions in technology. Keeping an audience's attention and interest for decades, though? That requires hard work.
Gamers are a dedicated lot, and if you hook them with lovable characters and detailed mythology they'll always root for you, even in the wake of samey sequels or uninspired spin-offs. However, publishers are always looking to make franchises more mainstream to make more money, and that sometimes means introducing elements that lose the very essence of what made them special in the first place.
When this happens, a reboot is in order, but even that's a risk. We've seen big names try this and fall flat (looking at you, DmC), but sometimes franchises come through the other side better than ever.