The Matrix Resurrections movie released to theaters and HBO Max subscribers on December 22nd, and it had a few things to say about the video game industry in its meta-analysis of how creatives are treated in ruthlessly capitalistic industries such as video games and movies. But between this movie, Keanu Reeves aka Neo’s apparent dumbfoundedness at the lack of a new Matrix video game, and the recent tech demo of The Matrix Awakens, we got to thinking: what things should a new game in this universe have in it? Read on to see what things a new Matrix video game should have. WARNING: Spoilers for The Matrix Resurrections are ahead in this article, however, they have been blacked out and can be hovered over or tapped to be read.
What’s on your list of features you’d require in a new Matrix game, were one to actually be produced? Anything obvious we completely missed? Should Bullet Time be ironically removed from a new Matrix game? Let us know in the comments below, before the next SYSTEM FAILURE.
A New Matrix Game Must Have These Things
-
Another MMO?
We have already had an MMO set in the world of The Matrix. It was called The Matrix Online, but it feels like a relic of a bygone era – that of premium subscriptions for all MMOs. Yes, you had to pay $15 USD a month for this game, which felt like a skinned version of World of Warcraft, with not nearly as much depth. What was there was fun, if basic, and its story was considered canon by the then-trilogy’s writers. So, could we see the return of an MMO set in the Matrix universe? This is doubtful, but if it released as free-to-play and were made available on consoles, PCs, and mobile platforms, then it might have a chance to stand out in a sea of free-to-play games that are also available to play on every platform.
-
Bullet Time
In The Matrix Resurrections, [SPOILER] Neo was re-inserted back into the Matrix as a game designer, with the trilogy of movies in our world turned into a set of beloved ultra-realistic games in his. Neo’s team held pointless meeting after pointless meeting trying to decide what the main draw of The Matrix even was, and what they could do to “improve” upon it. They ultimately concluded the killer feature was Bullet Time. They weren’t totally wrong – this feature has been done to death in cinema and games ever since the first Matrix flick premiered, with Rockstar even developing an entire franchise that banked on it, called Max Payne. A new Matrix game should include Bullet Time, but not rely on it. In this regard, the MMO had it right, as you could only use the ability sparingly.
-
Boss Fights
The Matrix: Path of Neo included a final showdown that wasn’t in any of the first three movies, and was perhaps a better game for it. Usually, directly following the plot of any movie is a recipe for disaster in a game. So, a new Matrix game would have to include a new end boss. If it’s following The Matrix Resurrections, it’s hard to envision what a final boss might look like – the new movie didn’t really have a final fight, after all. The franchise has also already covered enemies and entities such as vampires, ghosts, and [SPOILER] the latest film essentially introduced zombies with its Swarm Mode. It would be best to consult with Lana Wachowski (writer of the films and games) to come up with some new archenemy. Given her previous eagerness to consult on Matrix games, it might be a no brainer. Speaking of writers, a new Matrix game would have to continue or produce new canon for the franchise. This has already been cemented as an established feature, with all three games' storylines either filling in gaps of time between movies, or establishing new characters entirely.
-
Nifty Crypto
NFTs have become a hot topic in gaming, and mostly for all the wrong reasons. But what better game to use such a metaverse-related currency than a new Matrix game? Just think of how happy the machines will be when they learn how much extra energy was expended to confirm the ownership of a token for some DLC shield, an act that could have just as easily been done using a tried-and-tested database system! We’ll call the NFT tokens “bits,” and for every eight you collect you earn a Byte Badge! Gotta encrypt ‘em all!
Obviously, the previous paragraph was laced with sarcasm. NFTs are a nascent technology that has not proven itself to offer much utility besides making rich people richer. In theory, it could give gamers some value to the time that they are otherwise “wasting” while playing, but then again when you get paid to do something it can quickly become less of a hobby and more of a job. It does seem like if any universe could break open the strange world of NFTs, it could be The Matrix. You shouldn't count on it, though.
-
Guns. Lots of guns.
Any new Matrix game should probably have guns. Lots of guns. The Mega City portrayed in the Matrix is full of modern-day weaponry, yet the real world contains futuristic technology such as hovercraft and energy-based weapons. So why not bring some of those more sci-fi inspired weapons into a new Matrix game? Destiny 2 has done a great job of mixing real-world and sci-fi weaponry, so looking there would be a great start.
-
I Still Know Kung Fu
As tough as it might be to mix gunplay with Kung Fu, it would have to be in a game as centered around these two things as the Matrix. The MMO went about this in a decent way, requiring opponents to use hand-to-hand combat only once a certain mode of combat was entered – getting enough distance between your enemies would allow you to use weapons again.
-
Residual Self Image
Whenever anyone enters the Matrix, they are digitally represented by their RSI, or Residual Self Image. Basically, how you feel you should look is exactly how you show up once you're jacked in. If reality is simulated, after all, then it should be easy and quick to change up your appearance. The Matrix Online had a decent character creator, but of course some combinations were likely limited by gender or some other factor. We can't go back to look and see what options there were, because the game shut down in 2009. But a robust character generator is a necessity in a world where you can digitally be whatever you want to be.
