Featured on this year’s Disney and Marvel Games Showcase, Disney Speedstorm is getting a massive update that expands its roster and maps with Pixar’s Monsters Inc. While the game has yet to officially launch after delays after the beta, Disney Speedstorm is slowly building its ranks from various Disney properties and franchises in preparation for full release. As the game brings together faces and places, both young and old in the Disney repertoire, it seems that Disney Speedstorm will offer a variety of choices to cater to all types of players.
Right now, only a handful of franchises have been officially confirmed for Gameloft’s Disney Speedstorm, but it’s likely more will be added in the future as seasonal content. Until further details are confirmed by Disney or Gameloft, or whether Pixar follows Monsters Inc.’s recording, fans should still be able to enjoy the roster Disney Speedstorm it will offer when it launches with series of classic Disney movies like Jungle Book to more recent franchises such as the ongoing pirates of the caribbean series.
Mickey Mouse & Friends (1928)
Mickey Mouse & Friends covers a vast array of Disney movies, TV shows and more, and features arguably the most iconic cartoon characters of all time. After again with Mickey and company in Kingdom Heartsit’s no surprise then that both Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck are starring Disney Speedstorm as racers. Several songs belong to them, including some from Toon Village based on the similar Toontown and others from a conceptual Silver Screen with a black and white aesthetic. It’s likely there will be more characters further down the line, such as Minnie Mouse or Goofy.
Jungle Book (1967)
Since the original animated release on the big screen was in 1967, Jungle Book fans may not be an obvious first choice to record in Disney Speedstorm’s schedule. However, with its popularity somewhat revived after its 2016 live-action adaptation, both Mowgli and Baloo are appearing in Disney Speedstorm as racers along a track inspired by the franchise’s setting: Jungle Ruins. It’s unclear if Gameloft will add more characters or tracks from the franchise, but the inclusion of Jungle Book at least shows that even the oldest Disney properties have a place in Disney Speedstorm.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Although it’s not the only Disney princess movie he appears in Disney Speedstorm, Beauty and the Beast is one of the oldest to date. However, just like Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast did receive a live-action remake in 2017 with plans for a Beauty and the Beast prequel, but anyway, Belle is an iconic princess who deserves a place in Disney Speedstorm Besides Belle, the game also adds Beast as a racer and further includes several tracks based on Beast’s castle. Now the first villain of Monsters Inc. has been confirmed for the game, it is possible that Gaston will be a future addition.
Hercules (1997)
unlike Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beastor Mulan, Hercules is currently the only franchise that has not yet received a recent live-action adaptation to play in Disney Speedstorm. It’s supposedly being worked on though, which could be why it’s included in the game in order to spark interest in the coming Hercules live action remake. Despite this Hercules is still one of Disney’s original classic films and has given the game a unique visual look with tracks based on ancient Greek architecture and mythology. While it currently includes Hercules and Megara as racers, Hades could join them soon.
Mulan (1998)
After recently seeing a live-action adaptation in 2020, the eponymous Mulan appears alongside Belle as one of Disney’s other famous princesses in Disney Speedstorm. She is further guided by Li Shang. Despite the live action Mulan‘s controversies and boycott, so it seems Gameloft would like to focus on the animated version and stay true to the original vision of the franchise. It is unknown if any of the Huns will appear alongside Mulan, but the trio of Yao, Ling and Chien-Po could appear as racers.
Monsters Inc. (2001)
The latest update from Disney Speedstorm announced at Disney and Marvel Games Showcase, Monsters Inc. will add tons of new racers and tracks to the game. With a card inspired by the title Monsters Inc. factory, it looks like the new franchise will also feature more racers than any other, including protagonists James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and Mike Wazowski, as well as characters Celia Mae and Randall Boggs. Not only will this set a new standard for the number of racers from a single franchise, but it will also add the first villain, opening the door for other franchises to do the same.
Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)
pirates of the caribbean is an outlier inclusion for the Disney Speedstorm selection because it is the only franchise that was not originally animated. However, just like Captain Jack Sparrow in Sea of Thieves, pirates of the caribbean and his characters are adapted to the Disney Speedstorm style, bringing both Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swan as racers. Since the film series is still in progress and there are many other characters and settings to draw from, future racers could be added by Gameloft such as Davy Jones, Will Turner or Hector Barbossa.
Overall, with this latest announcement, Gameloft has made it clear that it will continue to expand the racers and maps it offers with additional franchises. In addition to confirming additional content will be delivered each season, Disney Speedstorm can challenge games like Mario Kart with a competitive, ever-changing development strategy. This could be the game’s biggest selling point if it keeps the momentum of adding new franchises, both classic and modern, and the new capabilities of Pixar properties joining the party.
Disney Speedstorm is expected to be released in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
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