For over a century, Hollywood has seen itself as the king of entertainment, riding out challenges from both television and home video. However, after years of waiting in the wings, the gaming industry is now starting to blur the lines between cinema and video games.
Tentpole releases now have budgets rivalling – if not eclipsing – the biggest franchises Hollywood has to offer, and A-list actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Willem Dafoe and Norman Reedus have all lent their voices and, in some cases, likenesses to video game characters. The recent release of Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding starred not only The Walking Dead’s Reedus but can also count Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Margaret Qualley and director Guillermo del Torro amongst its cast members.
Games have also now become storytelling platforms in their own right. Gone are the days of Pong or Frogger – modern video games have the type of expansive storylines and epic world-building that would once be associated with a George Lucas or a Steven Spielberg. Our friends at Betway have created a handy infographic that tells you all you need to know about some of the highest-grossing video games of all time.