We might be getting treated with a new Death Note game, as Shueisha Inc., a Japanese publishing company, recently acquired two new trademarks related to the series. Tsugumi Ohba’s controversial manga has been dormant for a while now, and a new game might just be that reignites the fandom.
Although super popular, Death Note never had a proper game closely following the main storyline. There is a Nintendo DS video game series that could be considered the best one so far, but it was released more than 15 years ago, so it’s time we get a refresh.
New Trademarks Suggests Death Note Game Might Be In The Works
Shueisha Inc. has filed two trademarks, “Death Note” and “DEATH NOTE KILLER WITHIN.” Interestingly, the items and services listed under both trademarks are similar to those owned by Shueisha Inc. for other games, including One Piece Odyssey, My Hero Ultra Rumble, and Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero.
While the first trademark doesn’t scream anything special, “DEATH NOTE KILLER WITHIN” does incite excitement. It might potentially be the title of the new game, and it sounds fancy just going by the name. Of course, this is all speculation at this point, and we’ll have to wait for more details to surface.
If Bandai Namco publishes this game, we could see it announced on Bandai Namco’s Summer Showcase, taking place on July 5. Bandai Namco is responsible for publishing the majority of anime and manga-related games, so this is within the realm of possibility.
It’s also worth noting that a live-action Netflix series based on Death Note was announced in 2022, and the trademarks might have something to do with it. However, as mentioned earlier, the content in trademarks suggests it’s more likely a game.
It’s Due Time We Get a Death Note Game
Despite being one of the most popular and commercially successful anime/manga ever, Death Note never really had a significant adaptation in video games. This could be because the series finished long ago, and when gaming became more mainstream, publishers went with recent franchises instead.
Given the manga’s popularity, it might be a gold mine waiting to be discovered. Fans have already started to voice their opinions online, and some are even skeptical that this is true. Regardless, there is something for the fans to look forward to.
When anime/manga video games are developed, they are usually Gacha games for mobile devices or generic fighting games. It would be interesting to see what direction it will take when a game based on the manga is released.
The manga has mainly been limited to crossover events so far, with the most notable being the one with Identity V. We have also received a few VR games based on the manga, but if a new game is to be made, an asymmetrical multiplayer RPG makes the most sense.
Do you think a Death Note game is on the horizon? What would the genre of the game be? Will we get an announcement about it on Bandai Namco Summer Showcase? Let us know in the comments below.
