A new Transformers game is on the way from Activision and Hasbro, timed to coincide with the release of Michael Bay’s fourth film in the series, Transformers: Age of Extinction. The game, titled Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, will be released for Nintendo 3DS, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One this June.
According to Activision, Rise of the Dark Spark will serve as a follow-up to both the upcoming film as well as the games Transformers: War for Cybertron and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. Over 40 playable characters will be featured in this third-person action-adventure game, from both the film and the game universes. Players get to choose between playing as Autobots and Decepticons in their fight to secure the titular Dark Spark as it possibly… well, rises.
There will also be a multiplayer component by way of the returning Escalation mode, which is built around wave-based survival gameplay. Activision also promised a new leveling system that “transforms single-player and multiplayer into one unified, persistent character development path. Experience earned in any part of the game unlocks potent awards and tactical loadout choices – including new characters, stronger weapons, special abilities and consumable bonuses – for use throughout the entire game.”
The game is coming to us from developer Edge of Reality (the developer of the recent Loadout), which marks a shift in Activision’s previous plans when it comes to the Transformers license. The last Transformers game, High Moon Studios’ well-received Transformers: Fall of Cybertron was released on August 21, 2012. The Activision-owned development studio also created War for Cybertron, and the movie tie-in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Following the trio of Transformers titles, High Moon Studios went on to release Deadpool which did not fare as well (though it is very funny). Activision let go more than 40 High Moon employees after that.
Edge of Reality is a privately owned studio that is perhaps best know for its ports of Mass Effect 3 for the PS3 and The Sims 3 for PS3 and Xbox 360. An exact date wasn’t given for the game’s release, but the film Transformers: Age of Extinction hits theaters on June 27. Rise of the Dark Spark should arrive right around then.
