Triple A John Wick and Saw Games Teased by Lionsgate as Gaming Strategy Gains Momentum
Lionsgate has once again signaled that it wants to turn its biggest film franchises into meaningful gaming revenue drivers, with fresh comments pointing to triple A opportunities tied to John Wick and Saw. The tease came during the investor call that followed Lionsgate’s Q2 2026 report, where Motion Picture Group Chairman Adam Fogelson referenced both franchises directly and framed them as part of a larger set of gaming initiatives that could materially contribute to the company’s financial outlook over the coming years.
The quote itself is short, but it is loaded with strategic intent. Fogelson said Lionsgate’s “AAA game opportunities and other gaming opportunities around John Wick and Saw” are seeing increased interest and increased opportunity, and that the company remains on schedule, adding that audiences should expect a “meaningfully additive financial opportunity” in the coming years. This is the kind of language that usually appears when a studio believes it has multiple paths to monetize an IP, whether through licensing deals, co development partnerships, or a mix of premium releases and smaller projects that expand awareness between film milestones.
For gamers, the John Wick angle remains the most surprising gap in the market. The first film debuted in 2014, and over the last 11 years the franchise has expanded into a broader universe with sequels, spin offs, and more planned entries. Yet gaming has largely been limited to John Wick Hex, a turn based strategy title that blended tactical planning with rapid execution. It earned respect on design merits, but it never delivered the cinematic power fantasy that most players associate with John Wick. Adding to the frustration, that game was delisted earlier this year, making it unavailable for new purchases and leaving the franchise effectively absent from storefronts at the moment.
Lionsgate previously stated in November 2022 that it was exploring pitches for a triple A John Wick game. The latest comment suggests that momentum has not stalled, but it still leaves a key question unanswered: are deals already signed, or is Lionsgate describing active negotiations and pipeline planning. The phrasing can be read either way, and the company did not provide partner names, project scopes, or target release windows.
Even if a triple A John Wick or Saw game is already in production, players should calibrate expectations. Modern triple A development cycles commonly run 4 to 5 years, and that assumes a stable scope, mature tooling, and a clear publishing plan from day 1. That means a realistic player timeline could land around 2030 or later, depending on when full production begins and how ambitious the games are. From a business standpoint, that is still valuable for Lionsgate because it keeps the IP active across media, builds long tail engagement, and creates new monetization beats outside theatrical windows.
To convert the John Wick fantasy into a premium game that actually hits, Lionsgate and its future partner will need to treat this as more than a skin on an existing action template. The franchise is about readable choreography, improvisational weapon use, clean motion, and relentless forward momentum, with a world that has its own rules, institutions, and consequences. The best adaptation would likely combine stylish third person gunplay, close quarters combat, reactive AI, and a mission structure that rewards player creativity rather than forcing a single stealth or loud path. If Lionsgate aims for a long term franchise, the safe bet is a campaign built around set piece craftsmanship and replayable combat challenges, paired with robust accessibility and performance targets that can sustain streaming and content creation ecosystems.
Saw is structurally different but equally promising. Its strength is psychological tension, moral choice pressure, and scenario design that escalates consequences. A modern premium game could lean into narrative driven survival horror, investigation, and puzzle mechanics with strong production values, while avoiding cheap shock loops that burn players out. If Lionsgate goes triple A, Saw needs elite pacing and world building, not just gore. The franchise works best when it makes players feel complicit in decision making, which is a natural fit for branching narrative systems and modern immersion tech.
If Lionsgate is still evaluating partners, the best fit depends on the creative direction.
For John Wick, the strongest candidates would be studios that understand tight combat readability, animation discipline, and systemic encounter design. A team with experience in stylish action, stealth adjacent sandbox combat, or tactical third person shooting could excel, especially if they commit to the choreography identity that makes John Wick distinct.
For Saw, the ideal partner is a studio that can ship high fidelity horror with strong narrative tools, compelling puzzle design, and excellent audio direction. A developer that understands dread pacing and environmental storytelling would be more valuable than one that only chases jump scares.
If Lionsgate truly wants a meaningfully additive financial opportunity, the partner selection has to be aligned with franchise identity rather than driven purely by scale. A mid sized elite studio with the right creative DNA can outperform a larger team that treats the IP as a superficial coat of paint.
If Lionsgate locks in triple A partners, which studio would you trust most to deliver a John Wick game that feels cinematic and responsive, and which studio would you pick to make Saw genuinely unsettling without relying on cheap shock value?
