Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson dropped a bombshell buried in the company’s Q2 2026 earnings call back in November 2025 that gaming media just discovered: AAA games based on John Wick and Saw are officially in development with formal announcements coming soon. After literally years of Lionsgate executives saying they want to make John Wick games without anything materializing, it appears the studio has finally moved beyond aspirational talk into actual production. And they’re not stopping with those two franchises either.
What Fogelson Actually Said
Around the 27-minute mark of Lionsgate’s Q2 2026 earnings call in November 2025, Fogelson responded to questions about IP monetization strategies by revealing gaming initiatives that had previously existed only as vague possibilities. Our AAA game opportunities and other gaming opportunities around John Wick and Saw and some others that we’ll be announcing soon, we’re seeing increased interest and increased opportunity, and we remain on schedule. So I think in totality, you are going to see a meaningfully additive financial opportunity coming in the coming years.
The key phrase is remain on schedule, which suggests these projects have progressed beyond initial concept discussions into active development with timelines and milestones. This represents a significant escalation from previous statements where Lionsgate executives expressed general interest in making games without confirming actual production. Fogelson’s language indicates deals have been signed, developers have been contracted, and work is underway rather than just being pitched around to studios.
The John Wick Gaming History
Lionsgate has been talking about making a proper John Wick game since at least 2023 when president Joe Drake stated there is a ton of energy around the prospect and that the company believes there is a big AAA game to be made out of John Wick. At the time, Lionsgate confirmed they had fielded multiple proposals from developers interested in creating games based on the franchise. Two and a half years later, we’re finally getting confirmation that one of those proposals moved forward.
The franchise has appeared in games before but never as a dedicated AAA experience. John Wick the character showed up in Fortnite as a playable skin and in Payday 2 as a special character. Mike Bithell developed John Wick Hex in 2019, a tactical strategy game serving as a prequel to the film series. While Hex was clever and stylish, it operated at much smaller scope and budget than what fans envisioned for a John Wick game. That title was also delisted from digital storefronts in July 2025, likely due to licensing expiration.
There was also John Wick Chronicles, a VR game released in 2017 that let players experience gunfights from the first-person perspective. Again, this was a smaller-scale experience that captured some elements of the franchise without delivering the full fantasy of being John Wick in a AAA action game with proper production values and scope. What Lionsgate is discussing now sounds dramatically more ambitious than anything previously released.
The Saw Gaming Project
The Saw franchise getting a proper game adaptation is less surprising given that leaks and rumors have been circulating for over a year. Back in September 2023, an insider known as The Tipster claimed a single-player survival game inspired by Saw, code-named Project Gideon, was in development. According to these rumors, the single-player version had already been approved while a pitched multiplayer component remained under discussion.
A Saw game makes tremendous sense from both creative and commercial perspectives. The franchise’s escape room puzzle box scenarios translate naturally into video game mechanics. Horror games consistently perform well commercially, especially those with strong IP recognition. Dead by Daylight already proved Saw content works in gaming through their crossover featuring Amanda Young and Detective Tapp, demonstrating audience appetite for interactive Saw experiences.
The question is whether Lionsgate pursues a single-player narrative horror experience in the vein of Resident Evil or a multiplayer asymmetrical horror game like Dead by Daylight. The Tipster’s original leak suggested both were pitched, with single-player approved and multiplayer still being discussed. Fogelson’s mention of AAA game opportunities plural alongside other gaming opportunities suggests Lionsgate might be pursuing multiple Saw projects at different scales and budgets.
What Other Franchises Could Get Games
Fogelson specifically mentioned some others that we’ll be announcing soon beyond John Wick and Saw, indicating Lionsgate is pursuing a broader gaming strategy across multiple properties. The studio’s catalog includes several franchises that could translate well into gaming experiences with proper development resources and creative vision.
The Hunger Games represents the most commercially valuable Lionsgate property outside of John Wick. The battle royale premise obviously aligns perfectly with gaming’s most popular genre, though creating a Hunger Games game that isn’t just a Fortnite clone presents creative challenges. A narrative-driven single-player experience exploring different games across Panem’s history could work brilliantly if treated seriously rather than as a cash-grab adaptation.
The Deep Cuts Nobody Expects
Now You See Me could support a heist game similar to Monaco or The Sting, though adapting the magic trick spectacle to interactive gameplay presents significant challenges. The Expendables franchise screams for a co-op action shooter in the vein of Left 4 Dead but with geriatric action stars. Divergent bombed cinematically but the faction-based premise and YA dystopia setting could work in gaming with the right developer.
Power Rangers technically falls under Lionsgate’s umbrella through Saban Entertainment acquisition, and a proper Power Rangers game with AAA production values would print money if executed competently. The Twilight franchise remains commercially relevant despite being over a decade removed from its theatrical peak, and choice-driven narrative games have proven popular through titles like Life is Strange and The Quarry.
However, speculation about obscure Lionsgate properties probably misses the point. Fogelson’s language suggests the upcoming announcements will be recognizable franchises with broad commercial appeal rather than deep catalog pulls that require explaining to investors. Expect marquee names that general audiences already know rather than cult favorites that only film nerds remember Lionsgate owns.
Why This Time Feels Different
Lionsgate executives have discussed making John Wick games for years without anything materializing beyond John Wick Hex. What makes these latest statements feel more credible than previous aspirational comments? Several factors suggest Lionsgate has moved past the talking stage into actual execution.
First, the specificity of Fogelson’s language. He didn’t say we’d like to make games or we’re exploring opportunities. He said remain on schedule and seeing increased interest, language indicating active projects with timelines rather than hypothetical discussions. Second, mentioning multiple franchises suggests a coordinated gaming strategy rather than individual opportunistic licensing deals. Third, framing these initiatives as meaningfully additive financial opportunity in the coming years suggests business plans with revenue projections rather than vague possibilities.
Most importantly, the gaming industry landscape has changed dramatically since Lionsgate first started discussing John Wick adaptations. Film and TV adaptations of games have become commercially viable and critically respected through successes like The Last of Us, Fallout, and Sonic the Hedgehog. This success flows both directions, with game adaptations of film franchises like Star Wars Jedi and Spider-Man demonstrating that licensed games can be excellent when given proper resources and creative freedom.
Who Might Be Developing These
Lionsgate hasn’t revealed which studios are developing these projects, but educated speculation based on genre requirements and developer capabilities narrows the possibilities. A John Wick game demands exceptional third-person action combat, precise gunplay, and stylish presentation. Studios with proven track records in this space include Remedy Entertainment (Max Payne, Control), IO Interactive (Hitman series), or possibly a Sony first-party studio given their action game expertise.
For Saw, horror specialists like Supermassive Games (The Quarry, Until Dawn) or Bloober Team (The Medium, Silent Hill 2 remake) could deliver the atmospheric tension and puzzle-box scenarios the franchise demands. If Lionsgate pursues multiplayer horror, Behaviour Interactive (Dead by Daylight) or Gun Interactive (Texas Chain Saw Massacre game) have specific expertise in asymmetrical horror gameplay.
However, AAA development increasingly involves collaboration between multiple studios. A John Wick game might have one developer handling the single-player campaign while another studio manages multiplayer components. Support studios could handle specific technical systems, art production, or quality assurance. The days of single studios creating massive games entirely in-house have largely ended except for specific outliers.
The Risks Nobody Wants to Discuss
Making AAA games based on film franchises carries enormous risks that Lionsgate’s optimistic earnings call language glosses over. Most licensed games fail commercially and critically despite recognizable IP and adequate budgets. For every Spider-Man success, there are dozens of forgotten adaptations that squandered beloved franchises through mediocre execution and cynical cash-grab design.
John Wick presents specific challenges translating its appeal to interactive gameplay. The films work because of Keanu Reeves’ charisma, world-class stunt choreography, and exceptional cinematography. How do you capture gun-fu elegance in player-controlled combat without either making it so scripted it feels restrictive or so freeform it loses the specific John Wick style? Games like Max Payne and Superhot have tackled similar problems, but nailing the precise feel of John Wick combat is exponentially harder than it sounds.
Saw faces different obstacles. The franchise’s appeal comes partly from gore and creative death traps that might be too disturbing for mainstream gaming audiences. Finding the right balance between honoring the source material’s brutality and creating something that isn’t just torture porn presents genuine creative challenges. The escape room puzzle mechanics need to be challenging enough to satisfy puzzle game enthusiasts without becoming frustrating trial-and-error experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the John Wick and Saw games be announced?
Lionsgate chairman Adam Fogelson stated announcements are coming soon during the Q2 2026 earnings call in November 2025. Based on the remain on schedule language, formal reveals could happen within the next several months, possibly at major gaming events in 2026.
Are these confirmed to be AAA games?
Yes. Fogelson specifically mentioned our AAA game opportunities in reference to John Wick and Saw projects. This indicates big-budget productions with substantial resources rather than smaller indie adaptations.
Who is developing the John Wick game?
Lionsgate hasn’t revealed the developer yet. Previous proposals were fielded from multiple studios back in 2023, but which developer’s pitch was accepted remains undisclosed. The announcement coming soon will likely reveal the development team.
What happened to John Wick Hex?
John Wick Hex, the 2019 tactical strategy game by Mike Bithell, was delisted from digital storefronts in July 2025, likely due to licensing expiration. It was a smaller-scale game distinct from the upcoming AAA project.
Will these games be movie tie-ins?
Unlikely. The timing doesn’t align with upcoming film releases, and Fogelson framed these as standalone gaming opportunities rather than promotional tie-ins. They’ll likely exist within the franchises’ universes without directly adapting specific films.
What other Lionsgate franchises might get games?
Fogelson mentioned some others that we’ll be announcing soon but didn’t specify. The Hunger Games seems most likely given its commercial value and natural gaming fit. Other possibilities include Power Rangers, The Expendables, or Now You See Me.
Are these single-player or multiplayer games?
Undisclosed. Fogelson mentioned AAA game opportunities plural alongside other gaming opportunities, suggesting Lionsgate might be pursuing multiple projects at different scales, potentially including both single-player narratives and multiplayer experiences.
Can Lionsgate actually pull this off?
That depends entirely on which developers they’ve partnered with and how much creative control those developers receive. Film studios licensing games to experienced developers with proper budgets can work brilliantly. Film studios trying to micromanage game development typically produces disasters.
The Proof Will Be in Playing
Lionsgate confirming AAA games based on John Wick and Saw are in active development represents a significant milestone after years of aspirational talk without follow-through. However, announcements mean nothing without execution. The gaming landscape is littered with promising licensed games that failed to deliver despite recognizable IP, adequate budgets, and talented developers.
What matters now is whether Lionsgate learned from past licensed game failures or if they’re repeating the same mistakes. The best licensed games succeed by respecting both the source material and the medium of gaming, finding creative ways to translate what makes the IP special into interactive experiences rather than just slapping the license onto generic gameplay. Spider-Man works because Insomniac understood what makes being Spider-Man compelling. Star Wars Jedi succeeds because Respawn crafted original stories within the universe rather than rehashing films.
For John Wick to work, developers need to capture the precise feeling of methodical violence and improvised creativity that defines the franchise. For Saw to succeed, designers must translate escape room death traps into compelling puzzle mechanics without losing the franchise’s disturbing edge. These are difficult challenges that require talented developers given creative freedom and adequate time. Whether Lionsgate provided those conditions remains unknown until the games actually appear. Until then, cautious optimism feels appropriate. The confirmation that these projects exist is encouraging. Whether they’ll be any good is an entirely different question that only time will answer.