While both Devil May Cry and Arcane are wonderful game adaptations, Devil May Cry is already doing for DMC what Arcane did not for LoL.
Netflix’s Devil May Cry animated series is causing quite a stir in the world of video game adaptations for being the only series after Arcane to have garnered such attention. Both series are adaptations based on popular franchises.
One thing that sets them apart is that Netflix’s Devil May Cry is doing a lot more for Capcom rather than serving as just another adaptation. The series is inspiring its audience to buy the games, thus profiting the franchise.
Dante shoots at Plasma | Credits: Netflix
However, the same cannot be said for Arcane, despite it being arguably more successful than its contemporary. But why hasn’t Arcane been able to generate the necessary buzz to inspire audiences to buy League of Legends?
Devil May Cry and Arcane are both amazing video game adaptations
Lady asks Dante to hand over his amulet | Credits: Netflix
Both Devil May Cry and Arcane managed to capture the hearts of audiences worldwide. The way they portrayed fan-favorite characters (like Dante) and reimagined the worlds of their franchises through their narratives impressed everyone.
While both series indulge heavily in creative liberty, this deviation does not undermine the fact that they have gained attention ever since their premiere. While Devil May Cry is discussed for its accurate character portrayal, Arcane is praised for its excellent story and animation.
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Both series took the best elements of their respective franchises and translated them into a different medium while adding something new to surprise the audiences. While Arcane created a story that provided an in-depth look into the lore of League of Legends, Devil May Cry created a story accessible to the non-gaming community.
Netizens have long admired the series for taking creative risks and excelling at their executions. Fans on platforms such as X and Reddit often discuss them and talk about the future of the series and how certain aspects of their lores may change.
But while both series have garnered enormous amounts of praise, applause, and attention, with Arcane being arguably more successful and popular than Devil May Cry, which is loved by the non-gaming community, only one is able to rake in profits through a different medium.
Devil May Cry is bringing in the profits, while Arcane isn’t
Jinx from Netflix’s Arcane | Credits: Netflix
While Arcane has been celebrated and applauded as one of the best game adaptations in history, the same has failed to translate into increased sales of League of Legends. While the series may have been made as a standalone property, no one can deny that it was expected to rake in more players (it failed).
Devil May Cry, however, has beaten Arcane in this aspect, with the sales of the games being at an all-time high after the series premiered. Audiences who’ve never played the games are purchasing copies, stating that the series was fun and that watching it motivated them to play the games.
Fans claim that after watching the Netflix series and seeing a few YouTubers playing the Devil May Cry games, they felt that the games were highly action-oriented and seemed entertaining, which caused them to purchase copies.
The same phenomenon was supposed to follow for League of Legends after Arcane premiered, but that did not happen. The reason might be that when compared to a hack-and-slash adventure, League of Legends is harder to enjoy due to its mechanics and steep learning curve.
The game is often too tough for beginners, and this, combined with the game’s notorious reputation of having a toxic community that constantly flames beginners for being bad, might be the reason why players are hesitant to pick it up despite loving Arcane.
In conclusion, Devil May Cry‘s accessible narrative and ease of gameplay have reinvigorated its fan base and renewed everyone’s interest in the franchise while Arcane failed to do so, not because of its faults, but due to the complexities surrounding League of Legends.
Devil May Cry and Arcane are available to stream on Netflix.