“Terminator Genisys” may not be coming back to the big screen, but the cyborg franchise is set to get an all-new mobile game release next year.
Skydance has inked a pact with game developer Plarium for the rights to develop a mobile game for iOS and Android based on the latest film in the “Terminator” franchise. The clan-based massively multiplayer online strategy game will pull from the themes, experiences and character likenesses from “Terminator Genisys” franchise — which fared poorly at the U.S. box office, leading Paramount Pictures to drop plans to release a sequel.
“Terminator Genisys,” which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke and Emilia Clarke, grossed $89 million in the U.S. last summer but fared better internationally with a $350 million take.
The forthcoming game from Plarium is separate from “Terminator Genisys: Guardian,” a third-person shooter game published by Glu Mobile in 2015.
“Mobile games have incredible potential to expand the universe of characters and experiences we have created for a movie and provide audiences and fans with a brand new perspective on our content,” Skydance COO Jesse Sisgold said. “Plarium has had great success in creating state-of-the-art (massively multiplayer online) titles and we look forward to working with them to bring our Terminator franchise to mobile devices in highly engaging new ways.”
The new “Terminator Genisys” game will follow the struggles of the Resistance, whose soldiers are in a state of civil war over the few resources and weapons that remain. Players start the game as the machines begin to wake up — but this time, without central command to dictate their actions. Players will have the option to lead a Resistance Commander or Skynet Command Node as the war between machine and man continues. The game will be free to play, with optional in-app purchases.
Skydance was founded by David Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle chairman Larry Ellison and brother of Megan Ellison, founder of Annapurna Pictures. The company earlier this year raised $700 million in new financing.
Plarium’s previous titles include “Vikings: War of Clans,” “Stormfall: Rise of Balur” and “Total Domination: Reborn.” Last fall, the company reached a deal with 20th Century Fox to license characters from “Alien vs. Predator” and integrate them into its “Soldiers Inc.” multiplayer game on Facebook. Founded in 2009, the company claims to have more than 250 million registered users for its mobile and social games, on Facebook and other platforms. Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, Plarium has more than 1,000 employees.
