Planet of the Apes aims to conquer videogame frontier

Written by K R Parkinson — August 18, 2017 at 11:47

Considering how influential Planet of the Apes continues to be in popular culture, it’s surprising that only one major video game title, made way back in 2001, bears the name of the franchise. However, that’s set to change with the announcement that Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier is currently in development for release later this year.

A product of FoxNext Games and The Imaginarium Studios, a UK-based motion capture studio founded by Andy Serkis, Last Frontier will be “set between Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes films,” and will tell the story of how the “fates of a tribe of apes and a band of human survivors intertwine.” As seen in first screenshots and teaser trailer, the Unreal Engine-powered graphics appear to be top-notch, and mocap performances for characters in the game are being done in-house at The Imaginarium Studios.

Although specific gameplay details have yet to be revealed, the game is being billed as a “narrative adventure game of conquest, betrayal, and survival…where every decision impacts the fragile balance between peace and war." Intriguingly, players will be able to “play both sides of the growing conflict, gaining a deep understanding of the motivations, hopes and fears of humans and apes alike.” Player choice will be a key part of the experience as “the game pushes towards a tense, fragile peace, or a final bloody battle.” Accordingly, multiple endings are planned.

While a firm release date is yet to be announced, Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier is set to be available this fall on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Those interested in more details can visit the game’s official website.