Untitled john wick game pre-dates movie 1, hints at clumsier combat

Saber Interactive’s upcoming, currently untitled John Wick game is set to take players back to a time before Keanu Reeves’ Baba Yaga was fully formed. Details are scarce, but a recent interview with Saber’s Chief Creative Officer, Tim Willits, offers tantalizing glimpses into the prequel’s development and gameplay.

Prequel promises raw, instinctual action

The game, revealed at Sony’s State of Play earlier this year, isn't just a collection of gun-fu moves. Willits describes the Wick series itself as feeling “like a video game” with its escalating waves of enemies and boss encounters. The upcoming title aims to capture that structure, but with a key difference: it’s set before the first film.

“It’s before movie one,” Willits confirmed. The visual cue? Wick is getting measured for a suit in the trailer and appears younger. This timeline shift implies a less polished, more instinctive fighting style. Think less choreographed perfection, more raw survival.

Willits suggests players will progress by gaining experience and unlocking skills, mirroring Wick’s journey to becoming the legendary assassin. This also means the game won’t involve the trauma of losing his dog, a storyline from the first film. The development team is excited about the project, calling it “Saber’s biggest announcement we’ve ever done,” a bold statement considering their recent work on titles like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Evil Dead: The Game.

The game’s structure is still largely unknown, but the emphasis on escalating combat suggests a level-based action experience reminiscent of titles like Max Payne. Saber has a track record of successfully adapting established IPs into compelling games, and this John Wick project could be their most ambitious yet. The release date remains undisclosed, but anticipation is building.

This prequel offers a unique opportunity to explore the origins of the Baba Yaga. It's a chance to see the world through Wick's eyes before he became a force of nature. And judging by the studio’s track record, it won't disappoint.