Stuntman: Hollywood — Everything We Know

Nothing you see on screen in an action movie is ever random. The old guy by the street yelling, “My Cabbages!” after you knock down their food stand. The truck that comes out of nowhere, forcing you to make a sharp turn toward incoming traffic. It’s a build-up of chaotic events that spike your blood pressure and keep pressing you to turn the gear further and further up. 

It’s funny. I know Vin Diesel and the fam will most definitely make it past the train tracks, safely cutting off the hot pursuit by the cops. Yet, my heart is always racing. My jaw dropped to the floor when they were able to pull off the impossible. 

Never have I dreamt of being in a stuntman’s shoes. I fear I may piss my pants. For the OGs, I suppose they’ll already have had a taste in the 2002 PlayStation 2 Stuntman classic. So many years down the line, Saber Interactive is determined to take us back to pulling off death-defying stunts. 

Even though we don’t quite know when the new game will arrive, I’ve compiled a decent chunk of information about the story and gameplay. Here’s everything we know about Stuntman: Hollywood so far.

What is Stuntman: Hollywood?

I want to call Stuntman: Hollywood an arcade racing game, but it’s more than that. It puts special focus on pulling off death-defying stunts. That means that until the filmmakers get the perfect shot, you’ll be steamrolling through explosive tracks and dodging missiles, over and over again. Not the worst way to spend a lazy afternoon, I’ll say. 

I actually appreciate that Stuntman: Hollywood structures the playthrough in missions. Many are scenes you might recall from iconic films like Fast & Furious and Knight Rider. We all know the near-miss, past the train tracks, but there are far more unforgettable stunts, funny that at this moment, the jumping from one skyscraper to another in Fast & Furious is coming to mind. 

Leave out the unrealistic stunts. Stuntman: Hollywood,  I believe, will borrow scenes from iconic films that you can visualize actually happening in the middle of a car chase. Your job? Dodge the chaotic barrage of falling debris from a collapsing movie set, under a set time limit. Only then do you move on to the next mission, which brings its own set of challenges that’s further hyped by the switch-up of cars and maps.

Story

I’m already too hyped for Stuntman: Hollywood. Fast & Furious is one of my favorite films of all time, at least the early entries, and that’s the story really. You’re a stuntman put right into the chaotic scenes from some of your favorite blockbuster movies. The goal is to become the best stuntman, with a rating system and all that tracks your progress. 

I suppose this isn’t your typical story campaign, but there’s still some level of progression. Fast & Furious, Knight Rider, Death Racer, Back to the Future, and more movies all contribute an iconic scene that you’ll be tasked with pulling off. In the end, you’ll earn bragging rights of being a true stunt legend. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is where Stuntman: Hollywood begins to take shape. Beyond speed and demolishing things, your objective is to nail a showstopping stunt. The minute the filmmakers say “Cut!” you know you’ve done your job right. It’s awesome that the stunts you’re pulling off are tried-and-true, at least in movies that have made it to the big screen. They’re dangerous, life-threatening, and explosive in every way possible. 

The stunts vary a great deal, from mission to mission. Some utilize ramps to make insane jumps. Others require drifting to evade danger. You definitely have near-misses, all brewing a spectacle of chaos all around you. 

It’s not just chaotic driving. This is an arcade racer that requires precision. Otherwise, you’ll need to redo levels, something that was quite frustrating in Stuntman: Ignition. With every precisely executed stunt, you climb the ranks to become “Hollywood’s most in-demand stunt performer.”

Another aspect that sweetens the deal is the diversity of new challenges and vehicles that you’ll unlock over time. I was pretty excited to see that Saber Interactive stays true to some of the vehicles from the movies. The K.I.T.T., for instance, returns in stride, as does the Time Machine, alongside more sports cars, muscle cars, and bikes. Sealing the package with a neat bow are the set pieces, which look just as high-budget as the movies.

Development

Saber Interactive, the developer and publisher behind Stuntman: Hollywood, seems to have won the Universal Pictures and NBCUniversal licenses to the Fast & Furious, Death Race, Knight Rider, Miami Vice, etc. movies, and instantly thought the Stuntman series the perfect project for adaptation. I say this because the last Stuntman game was released in 2007, so many years back that most people have forgotten about it.

Reviving classic games isn’t anything new, though, and I must say, I’m not mad at Saber Interactive, not at all, for reviving the series, as long as the new game leaves nothing to chance. 

Trailer

At the moment, Saber Interactive is treating us to a reveal trailer for the upcoming Stuntman: Hollywood. It’s about all that we have to set our expectations for the gameplay. Do watch the trailer because it does showcase some stunt favorites of mine. The Knight Rider theme song also ceremoniously cues in the K.I.T.T., among many more cinematic scene transitions and music.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

I can only confirm the platforms that Stuntman: Hollywood plans to launch on, which include the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam pages are already up, so go on and wishlist. More information on the exact release date and editions should follow the trailer reveal, hopefully soon. You can stay up to date via Saber’s website, where the studio will be announcing any latest news and additional information about the game. Alternatively, you can follow Saber Interactive on their X social handle.