The intersection of movies and gaming is a rich cultural landscape, where iconic films inspire interactive experiences. But sometimes, the perfect studio isn't tapped for the job, leaving fans wondering what could have been. Saber Interactive's upcoming John Wick game has many questioning why Sloclap, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Sifu, wasn't chosen to bring the Baba Yaga's brutal ballet to life.
Sloclap burst onto the scene with Absolver and cemented their reputation with Sifu, showcasing a mastery of intricate and thoughtful melee combat systems. Sifu, one of the most fascinating action games of 2022, impressed players with its unique approach to death, where the player character ages rapidly with each defeat. The game's Club level, in particular, draws heavy inspiration from John Wick, albeit without the guns.
The core of Sifu's gameplay revolves around gratifying close-quarters combat, featuring directional-input dodges and counters. This is precisely what makes fans believe Sloclap would have been the ideal choice for a John Wick adaptation. Modders have even taken it upon themselves to reskin Sifu to resemble a John Wick game, replacing the protagonist with Keanu Reeves and pitting him against waves of enemies.
Saber Interactive now faces the daunting task of proving they can deliver a John Wick game as electric and fun as Sloclap potentially could have. If gunplay doesn't play a significant role in Saber’s John Wick, the absence of Sloclap at the helm will be even more glaring. The pressure is on to capture the visceral, cinematic feel that fans associate with the John Wick franchise.
The announcement of a cinematic AAA John Wick game is exciting news for fans of both gaming and the John Wick franchise. However, some question the timing, noting that the John Wick movies have seemingly "dried up lately," with the future of a fifth movie starring Keanu Reeves uncertain. Despite this, the popularity of Sony's State of Play event, which revealed the game and other titles, reached record heights, becoming the most-watched broadcast ever with over 3.3 million views on YouTube.
Fans feel Sloclap, the studio behind *Sifu*, would have been a better fit due to their expertise in detailed and brutal close-quarters combat. *Sifu*'s gameplay features directional-input dodges and counters reminiscent of *John Wick*'s fight choreography. Some fans have even modded *Sifu* to resemble a *John Wick* game.
*Sifu* is a critically acclaimed action game known for its challenging and rewarding melee combat system. Its intricate and thoughtful approach to hand-to-hand fighting has led many to believe that Sloclap would have been the ideal choice for a *John Wick* adaptation. The game's Club level, in particular, draws heavy inspiration from *John Wick*, albeit without the guns.
Saber Interactive is developing the new AAA *John Wick* game. The game was revealed at Sony's February 2026 State of Play event, which became their most-watched broadcast ever with over 3.3 million views on YouTube.
Saber Interactive faces the challenge of delivering a *John Wick* game that captures the visceral and cinematic feel of the films, especially given Sloclap's expertise in close-quarters combat. If gunplay doesn't play a significant role, the absence of Sloclap at the helm will be even more glaring.
The article mentions that the *John Wick* movies have seemingly "dried up lately," with the future of a fifth movie starring Keanu Reeves uncertain. Despite this, the announcement of the AAA *John Wick* game has generated excitement among fans.
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