Peaky Blinders. It’s far to say it’s a name that many around the globe will know of. But today we aren’t talking about the smash-hit, award-winning drama that has become one of the most popular shows of all time. Oh no, today we are chatting Peaky Blinders: Mastermind – the debut video game of the show.
Coming about via the team at Curve Digital, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is set to launch on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC later this summer, providing fans of the show, or your everyday regular gamer, the opportunity to immerse themselves in a puzzle-adventure based on the madness of Tommy Shelby and his gang.
Attempting to take control of early 20th Century Birmingham streets, Mastermind is set right before the events of the first season, allowing players to join the Shelby family’s criminal organisation as they discover a sinister plot to put Tommy out of business. Peaky Blinders the game drills down directly into Tommy’s talent for planning complex scenarios in his head, with us players able to begin forming strategies by taking control of key members of the Shelby family down on the ground.
If you’re after a crafty, credible, and creative take on the world of Peaky Blinders, then Mastermind looks set to deliver it. James Marsden, Game Director at FuturLab explains that he saw the development team be able to use a key juncture in the series as the inspiration for the core mechanic employed in play:
“There’s a point in the show where Tommy Shelby explains he has no concern for the past, nor the future; all he cares about is a crucial moment he recalls the soldier’s minute,” details Marsden. “We designed our game around that idea, allowing the player to plan actions backward and forward in time, choreographing an ensemble cast of characters to synchronise their actions during these crucial moments. The player gets to feel like the smart and sophisticated leader that Tommy is, so we think becoming the mastermind will resonate with fans of the show and gamers alike.”
As Marsden describes, In Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, players will be able to freely set and rewind each character’s path in order to tune all of their actions for perfect coordination, tactically utilising characters and stealth to solve increasingly complex puzzles. It’s an inventive take on the series that suitably impressed publisher Curve Digital.
“We were floored by James and Kirsty’s original idea for a Peaky Blinders game,” says Simon Byron, Publishing Director, Curve Digital. “At its heart, Peaky Blinders is a story about a family, and capturing the ability to control the Shelbys simultaneously across the game’s narrative is such a smart way to bring the show to life. The mechanic they’ve created to allow players to directly control Tommy, Arthur, Polly, John, Ada and Finn across one looping timeline opens up unique gameplay possibilities, stylishly brought to life in FuturLab’s trademark gorgeous art style. It’s a game that almost defies categorisation – part action, part puzzle, part adventure, but all inventive.
“There’s often scepticism about licensed titles, so we’ve worked really hard to ensure this is a game which stands within the Peaky Blinders universe, whilst bringing something completely fresh and original. We’ve lived with the secret for a while now. It’s such a relief to be finally able to unveil Peaky Blinders: Mastermind.”
Key to the game’s development has been the involvement of those behind the source material, with Steven Knight – Peaky Blinders creator and writer – commenting: “Peaky Blinders has become more than a TV show, it has become a worldwide phenomenon. With the launch of the Peaky Blinders: Mastermind game we are inviting you to enter that world and take part in it, live in it and take your place beside the Shelby family as they fight for their very survival. You’re going to have to be as smart as Tommy, as tough as Arthur, as ruthless as Polly. Good luck and remember, you really are a Peaky Blinder now.”
Jamie Glazebrook, Executive Producer at Caryn Mandabach Productions adds, “As the TV show continues to find new audiences around the world, it’s a real thrill to see Peaky Blinders brought to life as a video game, especially in a way that properly understands that the Shelbys are about brains just as much as they are about brawn. I’ve no doubt that Peaky Blinders: Mastermind will prove every bit as addictive and immersive as the series that inspired it.”
A fan of the show? Just want to get involved in some blinding video game action? Peaky Blinders: Mastermind features will allow players to:
- Witness the rise of Tommy Shelby as the true leader of the Peaky Blinders in early 20th century Birmingham
- Utilise Tommy’s prowess for planning to set up complex scenarios
- Control Tommy, Arthur, Polly and more on the ground as they pull off mission after mission
Further to all this, FuturLab has also collaborated with Feverist, the U.K. art-rock band who were involved in the soundtrack to Peaky Blinders Series 1, to create an original bespoke soundtrack for the game. They will be revealing the single Reveller from the upcoming soundtrack album, as well as The Secret featured in the reveal trailer soon.
So what do we think? Is there a place for Peaky Blinders in the gaming world? Will you be buying Peaky Blinders: Mastermind on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch or PC this summer? Let us know in the comments.
