An opinion piece from Collider argues that after a string of poorly received summer 2026 franchise films — including The Mandalorian and Grogu, Supergirl and Masters of the Universe — big studios should shift their focus away from blockbuster movies and towards video games as the primary way to keep major IPs like Star Wars, Harry Potter and DC alive. The writer contends that audience fatigue with formulaic, IP-driven films and TV spin-offs is signalling a need for change, and that video games offer a better creative outlet for expanding these fictional universes without damaging the underlying brands further.

The piece points to titles such as Hogwarts Legacy as evidence that games can deepen a franchise's world-building and immersion in ways film cannot, partly because games are not bound by a fixed runtime and can offer dozens or even hundreds of hours of engagement. It contrasts this with the struggles of recent tentpole films, while noting that original and nostalgic non-franchise releases, such as Backrooms, Obsession and The Devil Wears Prada 2, have performed strongly with critics and audiences. The author suggests franchises should treat video games as a primary storytelling vehicle rather than a secondary tie-in product.