ART OF PLAY AND KING FEATURES ANNOUNCE PREORDER CAMPAIGN FOR UPCOMING PHANTOM GAME ADAPTATION
Celebrating its iconic legacy, The Phantom game features exclusive preorder rewards from some of the franchise's most renowned artists
Melbourne, Australia, 27 November 2024, A classic comic and video game are united today to celebrate the beloved Phantom franchise. King Features, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters, and Melbourne-based game developer Art of Play today reveal details for The Phantom, an action brawler coming soon to PC and console. The game’s pre-order campaign begins today, offering players digital and physical rewards to celebrate the upcoming title.
A 90 Year Legacy
The Phantom game celebrates comics' first costumed hero and his nearly worldwide legacy. Often coined “The Ghost Who Walks” or “The Man Who Cannot Die,” Kit Walker (The Phantom) defends the fictional country of Bangalla against piracy, injustice, and greed. Nearly a century after The Phantom’s creation, game development studio Art of Play is bringing this masked hero to PC and console. Alongside King Features, a leader in classic character licensing and pop culture franchise development, the project combines traditional comic styling and classic brawling mechanics to create an authentic homage to this beloved character. To capture this aesthetic, Art of Play will head the artistic development of the game, opting for a completely hand-drawn art style to honor The Phantom’s comic origins.
A Classic Brawler For A Classic Character
The Phantom is an arcade-style beat-‘em-up coming to PC and consoles. Play as The Phantom or his partner, Diana Palmer, in this 15-level global mission. The feared pirates of the Singh Brotherhood are battling for power and threatening The Phantom’s legacy, and it’s up to you to stop them. Use your hand-to-hand fighting skills and trusty weapons to dispatch this evil, and call in assistance from your stallion, Hero, and Devil the Wolf! The Phantom game features an original storyline created by Art of Play and approved by King Features. Experience this canon addition through full-screen cutscenes, hand illustrated by seasoned comic book artist and existing Phantomcontributor Anthony Spay.
“The global appeal of The Phantom has endured across generations throughout the franchise’s history in the world of pop culture. Partnering with Art of Play on this new video game gives fans yet another way to connect with the classic character in a modern way, and we are eager for fans to experience this thrilling gaming adventure,” said Carla Silva, Senior Vice President and GM, Head of Licensing, King Features.
Pre-Orders Available Now
In celebration of The Phantom’s upcoming release, Art of Play is thrilled to present a global pre-order campaign. Beginning today, pre-order incentives are available for both PC and console and players may select between two different pre-order packs. The ‘Digital Phan Pack’ features a digital copy of the game and a collection of exclusive digital rewards. In addition to these mentioned rewards, the ‘Mega Phan Pack’ includes a limited edition collector’s box and print from The Phantom’s iconic artists. Fans can choose art from Sy Barry, Sal Velluto, Glenn Ford, Luca Erbetta, Anthony Spay, Alex Trpcevski, and more! Each artist pack is limited to 100 units.
‘Digital Phan Pack’ ($19.95 USD)
- Digital copy of the game
- Digital art book (32 pages)
- Digital soundtrack
- Digital Sprite sheet poster
‘Mega Phan Pack’ ($39.95 USD)
- Artist collector’s box (limited numbered)
- Artist print (limited and numbered)
- Digital copy of the game
- Digital art book (32 pages)
- Digital soundtrack
- Digital Sprite sheet poster
Gameplay Features:
- Battle through 15 levels in this canon addition to The Phantom’s universe.
- Choose between The Phantom or his partner, Diana Palmer, with appearances from Hero and Devil!
- The Phantom features a completely hand-drawn aesthetic, produced frame-by-frame by Art of Play’s top artists.
- A brand new, original storyline told through cutscene sequences.
- 2-player co-op and a unique single-player mode.
- A brand new story addition told through frame-by-frame animation from experienced Marvel and DC artists.
- Exclusive pre-orders campaign features digital and physical rewards from renowned Phantom artists.
The Phantom is coming soon to PC and console. To pre-order the game and receive exclusive rewards, visit https://thephantomgame.com/. Keep up with the game’s development via the official Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
About The Phantom
Created by Lee Falk in 1936, The Phantom is a classic comic strip turned global phenomenon featuring the first masked superhero. When the sole survivor of a pirate attack was washed up on the shores of Bangalla, a fictional country off the east Coast of Africa, The Phantom was born. Dedicating his life to the destruction of piracy, greed, cruelty, and injustice, this legacy was passed down through generations. Over time, there arose a legend of The Ghost Who Walks, a hero who cannot die. Since his debut, The Phantom has been distinguished as one of the few adventure strips in continuous syndication. With over 60 years of publishing, animated TV series adaptations, a feature film, and a loyal legion for fans across the globe, The Phantom still strikes fear into the hearts of even the most hardened criminals.
About Art of Play
With studios in Australia and the UK, Art Of Play has been producing award-winning games for the world’s top entertainment brands, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and Transformers, for over a decade.
About King Features Syndicate
King Features is a premier producer and distributor of the world’s most iconic intellectual properties and a leader in classic character licensing and franchise development. With one of the longest-running consumer products in the industry, King Features’ portfolio includes world-renowned pop culture brands such as Popeye®, Cuphead, Flash Gordon™, The Phantom™, Hägar the Horrible, Moomin, Prince Valiant® and Mandrake the Magician. King Features produced the Emmy-nominated series The Cuphead Show! with Netflix Animation, which debuted in 2022. As content syndication specialists, the company distributes beloved comics such as Blondie, Beetle Bailey®, Mutts™, and dozens of others as well as columns, editorial cartoons, and puzzles across multiple platforms and content providers around the globe. King Features is part of Hearst Newspapers, which publishes 24 dailies and 52 weeklies, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, and Times Union (Albany, New York), and operates local digital marketing services and directories.
