World War II isn't exactly fresh territory for video games. We've stormed the beaches of Normandy a thousand times. But seeing a young, shield-bearing Steve Rogers square off against a version of the Black Panther that isn't T'Challa? That changes things. It’s gritty.
Amy Hennig is the mind behind this. If that name sounds familiar, it should. She’s the creative force who essentially built the Uncharted DNA at Naughty Dog. Now, under her new studio Skydance New Media, she’s tackling Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, and honestly, it looks like the linear, narrative-driven epic people have been begging for since Marvel’s Avengers stumbled over its own "live service" feet.
The Story Behind Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
The game takes us back to occupied Paris. It’s 1943. The world is on fire. But this isn't just a simple team-up story where everyone shakes hands and starts punching Nazis immediately.
At the heart of the conflict are two titans who don't necessarily trust each other. You have Steve Rogers, the Captain America we know but in his early, less "perfected" years. Then there’s Azzuri. He is the Black Panther of the 1940s and T'Challa’s grandfather. He’s regal, deadly, and deeply suspicious of an American super-soldier stomping around his operations.
They’re both hunting the same thing: Hydra. But their methods? They clash. Hard. The trailer footage shown at State of Unreal 2024 showcased a rooftop confrontation that felt more like a Bourne movie than a Saturday morning cartoon. The tension is thick. You can feel the weight of their ideologies clashing against the backdrop of a city under the boot of an occult-obsessed enemy.
Four Heroes, One Mission
A lot of people assumed this was just a co-op brawler. It’s not. It’s a single-player, narrative-focused action-adventure. You’ll be swapping perspectives between four main characters.
First, obviously, is Cap. Then Azzuri. But then things get interesting. We’re also playing as Nanali, a Wakandan spy embedded in Paris, and Gabriel Jones, a member of the Howling Commandos.
The inclusion of Nanali is a massive win for lore nerds. She’s a character who hasn't had nearly enough shine in the comics, and seeing the war through the eyes of a Wakandan intelligence operative adds a layer of "espionage thriller" that most superhero games ignore. Gabriel Jones brings the boots-on-the-ground perspective. He’s a soldier. He doesn’t have a vibranium suit or a serum-infused heart. He just has a gun and a job to do.
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Why the Unreal Engine 5 Tech Actually Matters
Look, "next-gen graphics" is a marketing buzzword that has lost all meaning. But Skydance is using Unreal Engine 5.4, specifically utilizing MetaHuman technology.
I watched the breakdown of the character models. The way the skin pores react to light and how the micro-expressions work on Steve Rogers’ face is actually kind of terrifyingly realistic. It doesn’t look like a "game character." It looks like a person.
This isn't just about eye candy. In a game driven by Amy Hennig, the story is everything. If the characters look like plastic dolls, the emotional weight of a scene where a soldier questions his orders just doesn't land. By using the Nanite and Lumen systems, the developers are creating a Paris that feels lived-in, damp, and dangerous. The lighting is moody. Shadows matter. It feels cinematic in a way that reminds me of The Last of Us Part II, but with the scale of a Marvel blockbuster.
Tackling the "Super Soldier" Fatigue
Let's be real. We’ve played as Captain America before. The combat in the Crystal Dynamics game was actually decent, but it lacked soul.
In Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, the combat looks far more visceral. It’s heavy. When Cap throws that shield, you feel the impact. When Azzuri uses his claws, it’s precise and predatory. The contrast in their fighting styles is the hook. Cap is a brawler with tactical precision. Azzuri is a shadow, a hunter.
There's a specific focus on the "ensemble" aspect without the baggage of multiplayer matchmaking. You’re playing through a scripted, high-fidelity movie where you happen to control the action. That’s a relief. The gaming industry has tried to turn everything into a "forever game" with loot boxes and battle passes. Skydance seems to be rejecting that. They’re making a game with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Breaking Down the Setting: Why 1943 Paris?
Paris in the 40s is a vibe. It’s the city of lights, but dimmed by occupation. It allows for a variety of gameplay styles. You have the wide-open boulevards for big set-piece battles and the cramped, claustrophobic sewers and back alleys for the stealthier sections with Nanali.
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It also allows the writers to explore the politics of the era. You have Wakanda, an isolationist nation that technically shouldn't be involved in a "world war," clashing with the burgeoning American superpower. It’s a geopolitical mess, and the game seems poised to dive into that rather than just skimming the surface.
What This Means for the Future of Marvel Games
For a long time, Sony had the "prestige" Marvel games on lock with Spider-Man. Then we had the Guardians of the Galaxy game from Eidos-Montréal, which was shockingly good but suffered because people were burnt out on the Avengers brand.
This Captain America and Black Panther game represents a new era. It’s part of a broader push to give different studios a crack at these icons with specific creative visions. We have an Iron Man game coming from EA Motive. We have a Black Panther solo game coming from Cliffhanger Games.
But Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is the one leading the charge. It’s the litmus test for whether or not players still want linear, single-player Marvel stories. Based on the reception to the "Big Ben" trailer and the Unreal Engine showcase, the answer is a resounding yes.
Misconceptions You Should Stop Believing
There are a few things floating around Reddit and X that just aren't true. Let's clear the air.
- It’s not an open-world game. Don't expect to be swinging around Paris like Spider-Man in Manhattan. It’s a directed experience. Think Uncharted or God of War.
- It’s not T’Challa. I keep seeing people ask why Black Panther’s voice sounds different. It’s his grandfather. He’s a different man with a different temperament.
- There is no co-op. Even though there are four heroes, this is a solo journey. You will likely switch between them based on what the story requires at that specific moment.
Realism and the "Skydance" Touch
Skydance New Media isn't a massive studio yet, but they’ve hired veterans from across the industry. When you listen to Amy Hennig speak about "player agency versus narrative flow," you realize why her games feel different. She cares about the why as much as the how.
In most superhero games, you fight because you're the "good guy." In this game, the motivations are murkier. Why is a Wakandan King in Paris? What is the cost of the Super Soldier program? These are the questions that keep the plot moving.
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The music is also being handled by Stephen Barton. He did the score for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Apex Legends. The orchestral swells we’ve heard so far have that classic Alan Silvestri "heroic" feel but with a darker, more wartime-period edge. It’s sophisticated.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve on this title, here’s what you need to do. First, go watch the "1943" trailer again, but pay attention to the background details in the environment—the posters on the walls, the tech Hydra is using. It hints at a much deeper integration of the "weird science" side of Marvel than we usually see.
Secondly, if you want to understand the lore of Azzuri, look up the Black Panther/Captain America: Flags of Our Fathers comic miniseries by Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan. While the game isn't a direct adaptation, it's the primary source material for this specific dynamic. Reading that will give you a massive leg up on understanding the friction between the two leads.
Keep an eye on the release window. Currently, it’s slated for 2025. Given the polish of the Unreal Engine 5 footage, it’s likely we’ll see a more substantial gameplay deep dive later this year at a major showcase like Summer Game Fest or a dedicated Marvel Games event.
Prepare your rig or your console. Unreal Engine 5.4 is no joke. This game is going to push the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X to their limits. If you’re a PC player, you’re probably going to want to make sure your SSD is fast and your GPU can handle heavy Ray Tracing, because this game is built on lighting.
This isn't just another licensed game. It’s a specific, historical take on two of the most important characters in the Marvel canon. It’s about legacy. It’s about the clash of two worlds during the most pivotal moment in human history. And frankly, it’s about time we got a game that looks this good and takes its story this seriously.
Track the official Skydance New Media social channels for "development diaries." They’ve started releasing small clips of the performance capture process. Watching how the actors—Khary Payton as Azzuri and Drew Moerlein as Steve Rogers—interact on set gives you a real sense of the chemistry they're building. That chemistry is going to be the heart of the game. If you aren't invested in their rivalry, the whole thing falls apart. But from what we've seen so far? I’m betting on the shield and the claws.