Why a Polynesian Setting is Perfect for Immortals Fenyx…

It can be hard for new IPs to battle their way through the noise of countless sequels, remasters, and remakes that have a prominent place in the video game industry, and some developers become fairly risk-averse when it comes to new titles. This can be seen in recent months with companies like Motive Studio and Remedy Entertainment opting for remakes of classic titles rather than developing new entries. However, every so often the risks can pay off, as players have seen with Ubisoft's 2020 action-adventure title Immortals Fenyx Rising.

The Rumored Setting For The Sequel

Greek mythology is undoubtedly a rich source of inspiration and is filled with epic stories, compelling characters, and heartbreaking tragedies. However, despite its prevalence in video games and other visual media, it is not the only treasure trove of inspirational mythological material to be found. There are innumerable mythologies around the world and throughout history that video games could pull from, and it seems like the Immortals Fenyx Rising sequel might be utilizing this fact.

Following in the footsteps of Chinese mythology-inspired titles like BioWare's Jade Empire, Immortals Fenyx Rising explored more eastern influences in its Myths of the Eastern Realm DLC. This expansion introduced the new character of Ku who is tasked with helping the mother goddess of Chinese mythology Nuwa to once again restore the balance between the heavens and Earth. Some players thought this was an indication of where the next game could be headed, but if industry insider and games journalist Jeff Grubb is to be believed, then the follow-up title will be taking inspiration from Polynesian mythology instead.

Why It Could Work So Well

Polynesia is an area that is made up of over a thousand different islands, so simply as a setting, it offers lots of possibilities. Its lush, verdant environments and varied topography would translate perfectly into a game, and the sequel could have a similarly colorful and highly stylized design as Immortals Fenyx Rising, which would tie the games together aesthetically even if their settings and stories are different. Like Greek mythology, Polynesian mythology contains a varied pantheon of deities and important figures that would transition nicely into the format laid down by the first game with its various god-inspired regions and quests.

Polynesian mythology is also incredibly under-utilized as a source of inspiration in modern storytelling, especially compared to undeniably popular ones like Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology which have pretty much been done to death at this point. The sequel to Immortals Fenyx Rising could further distance itself from similar games and other reductive comparisons by striking out into new territory and exploring under-represented cultures like Polynesia's.

There are plenty of intriguing elements that the sequel could explore, including stories about cosmic battles, deceptions between deities, creation myths, mass migrations, and epic voyages across the seas. Non-Polynesian players may already be familiar with some figures like the trickster hero Maui, who was a character in Disney's Moana, but for lots of gamers, this would be an exciting chance to learn more about a different culture.

An Immortals Fenyx Rising sequel is reportedly in development.

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