Kena: Bridge of Spirits' Xbox Ports Should Be The Tip of The Iceberg

Summary

Kena: Bridge of Spirits, three years after its initial release on PlayStation 5 and PC, is finally expanding beyond its launch console. The debut title from small independent developer Ember Lab, this game is set to finally see a release on Xbox consoles for the first time. Xbox gamers should definitely take the time to tryKena: Bridge of Spirits, one of 2021’s finest titles and a game that deftly blends gripping third-person action gameplay with an adorable Pixar-like aesthetic.

Now that the game is expanding its reach, this could bethe beginning of a bright future forKena.It’s been three years since the game’s original release, and there hasn’t been any major new content since then. Porting the game to another console is a great way to acknowledge it, but Ember Lab should take it to the next level and turnKenainto a proper franchise.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits Tag Page Cover Art

Kena: Bridge of Spirits Should Become A Franchise

A Full Kena Sequel May Be Unlikely

It’s important to note thata proper sequel toKena: Bridge of Spiritsmight be a bit of a pipe dream, as the team over at Ember Lab once said that a sequel was unlikely. While lead developers Mike and Josh Grier noted that the storyline had a lot of potential for expansion, the duo noted that they would prefer to make a new IP with a similar gameplay loop and storytelling style as opposed to a full-blown sequel.

Still, there’s plenty of potential for aKenasequel, and surely, there’s an audience for it. After all,Kena: Bridge of Spiritswas said to have broken even within its first month of launch, indicating that it sold pretty well for a debut title. It was also an award darling at the end of the year, even taking homea pair of trophies at The Game Awards.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits 2 Could Make Some Improvements

Spending more time in the world ofKenacould help address one element of the previous game that some found troublesome: its length. While the game as a whole was well received,Kena’s short length became a topic of debateamong gamers. Ember Lab could use that as a means to expand in a sequel, potentially opening up a larger world for gamers to explore even if it doesn’t commit to a full-blown open-world approach.

A sequel could also expand upon the narrative structure built within the first game. Centered around a spirit guide looking to take down evil with the help of forest creatures called the Rot,Kena: Bridge of Spiritstells a touching, emotional story that doesn’t quite dig deep into lore. A sequel could expand upon that lore by digging into deeper detail on the Rot, and the larger world thatKenaexplores.

Ember Lab should take it to the next level and turnKenainto a proper franchise.

Maybe Kena’s Comeback Doesn’t Need To Be A Game

Even ifKena: Bridge of Spiritsdoesn’t receive a proper sequel, there’s still plenty of room to expand this franchise through other means. WithEmber Lab having experience with animated films, Josh Grier previously noted thatKena’s story could continue in another, more linear artistic medium, be it an animated film or television show. This could work perfectly, asKena’s clear Pixar inspiration and beautiful visual style would lend itself wonderfully to a cinematic format.

There are a lot of ways that Ember Lab could continueKena’s journey, but no matter how it does so,Kenadeserves to continue forward as a franchise.Kena: Bridge of Spiritswas a refreshing titlethat carved out a unique niche in 2021, and it’s a shame that it hasn’t been pushed any further since. Hopefully, with the game’s Xbox port, Ember Lab will continue creatingKenacontent, and turn this game into the franchise it deserves.