King Kong Roars Back to Life with New Video Game Announcement

King Kong, the legendary giant ape, is set to make a grand return to the gaming world. Developer 7Levels has officially announced Kong: Survivor Instinct, an upcoming game slated for release on PC and consoles. Though details are still under wraps, the game is reportedly set within the universe of Legendary Pictures' Godzilla x Kong, adding another layer to the ever-expanding Monsterverse. However, a release date has yet to be confirmed.

The Monsterverse franchise has been gaining momentum, especially after the success of the film Godzilla x Kong: A New Empire, where Kong teamed up with Godzilla to battle a new adversary. The franchise has already ventured into other media, including the Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and now, it's gearing up to conquer the realm of modern video games.

Although no official trailer or gameplay footage has been released, 7Levels has teased Kong: Survivor Instinct on Twitter. The teaser features a haunting image of a monster's skull, accompanied by the game’s tagline. The post also tagged the official accounts for Legendary Pictures and the Monsterverse films, solidifying that the game will be rooted in this cinematic universe.

Kong: Survivor Instinct is expected to be a 2.5D action-adventure game where players take on the role of a father searching for his daughter in the aftermath of the events of Godzilla vs. Kong. The game will reportedly guide players through a devastated city, offering a mix of exploration and survival as they navigate the dangers left in the wake of the epic battle. Moreover, this title is said to be part of a three-pronged expansion of the Monsterverse into the gaming world, with additional projects including a mobile tie-in and a Roblox game inspired by Godzilla x Kong.

This isn't Kong's first foray into video games, but the road has been rocky. The most recent title, Skull Island: Rise of Kong, was met with harsh criticism for its subpar graphics, numerous bugs, and clunky combat mechanics. Fans and critics alike felt that publisher GameMill rushed the game to market before it was fully polished, leading to its poor reception.

However, there is optimism that Kong: Survivor Instinct will fare much better. While the game’s release date remains a mystery, the initial response from fans has been enthusiastic. Many expressed their excitement on social media, with some even hoping for a standalone Godzilla game in the future. Godzilla has made recent appearances as a crossover character in games like Dave the Diver and as a DLC fighter in the arena brawler Gigabash. However, his last solo outing was in 2014’s Godzilla for the PS3 and PS4, which has since been de-listed.

As anticipation builds, fans of both King Kong and the Monsterverse are eager to see how Kong: Survivor Instinct will bring the iconic ape back into the spotlight.