Whether or not you’re a collector of figures or a eager watcher from afar, there’s no doubting the impression the Funko Pop! vary has had on the gaming group. And so information of a digital journey starring these figures is at all times going to be of big curiosity.
It’s 10:10 Video games who’re hoping to money in on the curiosity with the discharge of Funko Fusion in 2024, with a stellar developmental line up behind them.
We sat down with 10:10’s co-founder and Design Director, Arthur Parsons, in hope of discovering out extra about Funko Fusion, what it takes to create a brand new Pop! tradition and the way the franchise will look to embed itself into the gaming world.
Hello, please might you introduce your self. What’s your position at 10:10 Video games and on the upcoming Funko Fusion?
AP: I’m Arthur Parsons, I’m the Design Director at 10:10 Video games and one of many co-founders of the studio together with Jon Burton (CEO/Artistic Director) and Paul Flanagan (Studio Director). As Design Director my position is to work intently with Jon on the core design of Funko Fusion, after which work with the crew so as to add the design element in addition to working day after day to create the magic of the sport in tandem with the superb crew that we’ve got assembled right here.
Are you able to give us a quick description of the premise behind Funko Fusion?
Funko Fusion is a 3rd individual videogame that celebrates fandom, we’re bringing collectively over 20 superb properties collectively in partnership with NBCUniversal into one action-adventure sport that enables as much as 4 gamers to play collectively on-line. We all know that players love nice video games and that additionally they love various things, so with Funko Fusion we wish to allow players to play collectively and nonetheless have the ability to rejoice the completely different films and TV exhibits that they’re obsessed with.
Funko Fusion is uniquely poised to ship on IP authenticity, in addition to celebrating fandoms with the mashup within the sport, permitting players in all places to increase their engagement with the licenses that they love. The crew right here at 10:10 Video games are pouring their creativity into the sport to make sure that there’s a shock round each nook and that the sport is filled with deep-cut IP easter eggs.
Whereas Funko Fusion is your debut title, there’s loads of expertise inside 10:10 Video games. Is that why you determined to go straight in with an IP as huge as Funko? What drew you to the Funko universe and did your earlier involvement with the brick-based behemoth assist?
Once we first began the studio again in July 2021 we knew that we wished to work along with our unimaginable companions at Funko, for us it was an ideal match as our senior crew’s earlier expertise is working with the world’s greatest IP, and Funko are recognized for celebrating IP Fandom.
Funko’s motto is that everybody is a fan of one thing, which is correct, however a lot of the issues that players are followers of don’t at all times get screentime in videogames, so we wished to make use of our experiences of delivering enjoyable and genuine videogames to translate Funko’s excessive octane vitality into a tremendous videogame, and our lately launched teaser trailer exhibits simply how incredible Funko Fusion will probably be. Our objective is to ship a sport that appeals to as broad an viewers as doable of folks that simply need a enjoyable and fascinating expertise that celebrates fandom.
There are a lot of franchises below the Funko umbrella, even simply those who fall into the NBCUniversal class. Which iconic characters and settings can we anticipate to see? Are there any that had been off-the-table?
For our debut title we wished to enchantment to the broadest spectrum of players, and as such we wished to verify that there have been IP featured that scratched that gaming itch for everybody, so NBCUniversal had been the pure match to associate with. Their breadth of IP brings in a number of generations, whether or not it’s these like me that grew up watching Grasp of the Universe within the Eighties, or whether or not it’s these players which can be entertained by the massive blockbuster films like Jurassic World, and all the pieces in between, there may be definitely one thing for everybody. With cult traditional films like The Factor that includes, in addition to Shaun of the Useless, the unimaginable TV present that’s The Umbrella Academy.
We’ve to date solely proven a glimpse of what’s going to be within the sport, however relaxation assured we’ve got loads extra up our sport improvement sleeves.
Can we anticipate to see your individual spin being placed on a few of the well-known tales being retold in Funko Fusion?
The crew right here at 10:10 Video games are undoubtedly placing a lot of consideration into IP authenticity, however on the similar time we’re that includes an enormous number of IP, we’re celebrating these memorable moments, including in these fan-favourite deep cuts, and doing all we are able to to ship one thing actually shocking. We like to think about the sport as being a celebration of the varied IP that we characteristic somewhat than a narrative retelling, and as we present extra of the sport everybody will get to see simply how a lot love and a spotlight is being spent on fan service.
What number of playable characters, roughly, will make up the Funko Fusion roster? Will there be variants and jumbo variations to unlock alongside the best way?
I’d love to offer you an correct determine of what number of characters will characteristic within the Funko Fusion roster, nevertheless, we nonetheless haven’t tied all the pieces down. There will probably be playable characters from each IP that’s featured within the sport, and we will probably be ensuring that we breathe life into these characters in a manner that solely we are able to, all finished with a singular Funko spin.
When it comes to character variants, we all know what’s on the core of Funko’s DNA, so we’re planning a lot of incredible surprises to ensure that Funko Fusion delivers each on the NBCUniversal IP entrance, but additionally on the Funko entrance. Funko Fusion is a videogame developed by an superior crew of Funko followers in addition to followers of the IP that we’re that includes, and we’re working arduous to ship one thing that may actually take players’ breath away.
Can you inform us a bit extra concerning the gameplay and the way the journey performs out inside the completely different universes?
We haven’t shared any particulars but about how the sport is knitted collectively, and the way the journey unfurls, however we’ll do within the upcoming months. Relaxation assured that the fabulous assortment of numerous IP are introduced collectively in a coherent manner.
When it comes to precise gameplay the sport is a 3rd individual action-adventure sport which is a mix of puzzle fixing and fight as gamers get to discover the fantastic worlds the crew are creating. Being a four-player sport there may be a considerable amount of crew interaction, however we’re additionally enabling gamers of various playstyles to return collectively to take pleasure in what we’re creating. Keep tuned for extra specifics within the coming months as we raise the lid some extra on Funko Fusion.
What’s the thought course of behind specializing in the multiplayer facet? Will gamers have the ability to benefit from the choices solo as effectively?
100% gamers can play Funko Fusion in single-player, in addition to together as much as 4 gamers. We’re making a sport that’s designed to carry players collectively, a sport that will probably be their hangout sport of alternative the place they will expertise superb content material and rejoice the IPs they love, however on the similar time players that wish to play solo may also have a tremendous time.
What’s the long-term plan for Funko Fusion? Might different franchises be on the playing cards?
Our objective with Funko Fusion is to carry players collectively like by no means earlier than, prolong gamers’ engagement with the IP that they love, introduce them to IP that they might not know, however extra importantly ship an extremely enjoyable gaming expertise. We will certainly be trying to have interaction with the group that may come and play Funko Fusion and will different franchises be on the playing cards? Let’s wait and see… we nonetheless haven’t revealed all of our playing cards but, however nothing is unattainable.
And eventually, what’s your favorite Funko POP! from your individual assortment?
From my very own Funko Pop! assortment, I’ve tons that I’m very keen on, I’m extremely happy with my Masters of the Universe Pop assortment, I don’t fairly have all of them, however I do have over 70 simply from that franchise, however I feel my final favorite would undoubtedly be my tremendous uncommon flocked Tony the Tiger Funko Pop!.
I’ve too many who I like to be honest, however that’s the superb factor about Funko Pops to me; they permit me to rejoice the issues that I like, the issues that I grew up with, and the issues that get me energised.
Enormous thanks exit to Arthur for giving us a few of his time on the again of the Funko Fusion announcement as 10:10 Video games look to create a brand new Pop! tradition.
We’ll preserve you within the loop as to how this one strikes, as we construct as much as the discharge of Funko Fusion on PC and console in 2024. Your greatest wager for now’s to absorb the announcement trailer and/or give 10:10 a follow on Twitter.
