Here's something we weren't expecting - a live action trailer for retro futuristic action roleplaying game Atomic Heart starring Jensen Ackles (The Boys, Supernatural).

Mocking ineffectual wizardry by showcasing some of the game's technological weaponry. Fantasy counterpart Hogwarts Legacy set in the Harry Potter universe is currently topping sales charts.

Atomic Heart is a virgin intellectual property and feature wise not batting in the same league as Hogwarts Legacy.

Harry Potter is the 8th highest grossing media franchise.

With a reasonable expectation of high sales figures, the Hogwarts Legacy developers have made a massive game with a wide array of activities and systems, which serve to further broaden appeal.

Size and feature wise Starfield (due to release soon) could be a serious competitor, and though also a virgin franchise comes from Bethesda who have a long history of great action roleplaying games in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout series.

Are Atomic Heart's developers (Mundfish) seriously hoping to compete with Hogwarts Legacy?

No.

But this is a fun way to cut through the deafening cacophony emanating from that title.

Speaking direct to the heart of gamers who aren't and may never play that silly wizard game, and also possibly grab the attention of those who are.

Great work.

Atomic Heart will release on February 21, 2023, on PC, Xbox One and X|S, and PlayStation 4 and 5.

[ Main Image: Live action Atomic Heart trailer - Jensen Ackles. Credit: Mundfish via YouTube. ]

References

Atomic Heart (February 15, 2023). Atomic Heart - "The Atomic Way" Trailer | ft. Jensen Ackles. YouTube.

Wikipedia. List of highest-grossing media franchises. (viewed February 15, 2023)