Ubisoft is bursting onto the big screen, a new division centered in France has sprung up from within; Ubisoft Motion pictures will be adapting some of gaming’s most beloved franchises into mega budget films for the theatre and television. Reportedly in house talent such as Ubisoft Digital Arts (an animation studio) will be involved. Every gamer dreams of seeing franchises they love branch out into other media, the problem being that these IP’s are often butchered by film studios that care little for the elements of the video game that were successful instead tending to choose these projects simply for the name that they carry (the Bloodrayne film is the best example; please just take my word for it, don’t waste your time Torrenting that garbage and definitely don’t pay for it.). We are looking at a very different scenario with Ubisoft the company that has borne and raised these franchises at the helm.

When the Bioshock film was announced (seemingly ages ago) there was a lot of negative reaction from fans, then after director Gore Verbinski vowed to bring the film the justice it deserved, maintaining the integrity of the hit game, many fans recounted their votes. Unfortunately the project died because the studio behind the film wanted a PG-13 rating attached to the film. Verbinski felt he could not do the story justice under this rule set and dropped out which in turn killed the film. Ubisoft entering the big screen (and little screen) limelight, will dramatically change the way that the general public and film studio executives (those who probably do not play games) will perceive the opportunity for success that video game adaptations can provide.

Many video game films are currently in development such as Mass Effect, World of Warcraft and Kane and Lynch to name a few. The projects that have video game talent attached to them such as Bioware’s gurus Greg Zeschuck and Ray Muzyka, who will be producing the Mass Effect film, seem to have the brightest futures just because their development is so close to home and tied to their creators’ vision. A Ubisoft produced film based on their mega successful Assassins Creed franchise will be more in tune with what fans (and incidentally everyone else) will want and expect and with this new development it is definitely coming. I would expect a television series as well. Franchises such as Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell and Assassins Creed are everything that a big budget film hopes to be and will breathe new life into the stale old story types Hollywood has fallen back on time and time again.

Ubisoft Motion Pictures spells a bright new day for all video game adaptations, as other groups will have to pick up their game. I would not be surprised if the Bioshock film came back from the dead. Comic books have ruled Hollywood for years since Spider man debuted ten years ago, others will claim they have dominated since the original Superman film released in 1978. No one can deny now is the time for the era of the video game film.