In a recent interview, the creator ofBreaking BadandBetter Call Saulrevealed that he wanted to adaptBreaking Badthrough a game likeGrand Theft Auto. One of the biggest television properties would have combined with one of the largest franchises in gaming for an experience that could have been a lot of fun. It was also not the only video game that could have adaptedBreaking Badand its spinoff, but the majority of the titles never left the planning stages. It came down to the fact that video games are just very hard to make, and the products may not have met the high standards set by the TV shows.
Video game adaptations are always a mixed bag, andaBreaking Badvideo gamemay have followed that trend. However, the hard-hitting writing ofBreaking Badcould have made for a fantastic game. The concepts at play may have blended very well with theGrand Theft Autoformula, and the creators of the show seemed committed to making sure that the video game would have been great. However, it will probably never see the light of day as Vince Gilligan prepares to close theBreaking Baduniverse when the last episode ofBetter Call Saulairs. That leaves fans wondering about what could have been, and it may have been great.
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The Story of Breaking Bad
TheBreaking Badfranchisestarted back in 2008 withBreaking Bad, and it has gone on to receive immense critical acclaim. The story follows a high school chemistry teacher known as Walter White. He discovers that he has lung cancer and wants to financially provide for his family. To do this, he teams up with a former student of his Jesse Pinkman and the two of them begin to cook meth. What ensues is five seasons that are considered by many to be some of the best writing that TV has to offer. Surrounding Walter White and Jesse Pinkman is a large cast of fully realized characters that act as allies or adversaries to the duo, like the terrifying Gustavo Fring, the elusive Mike Ehrmantraut, and the lovable lawyer Saul Goodman; the subject of the prequel seriesBetter Call Saul.
Breaking Badwas only the start of a much larger franchise that has been able to maintain the same level of quality. Two years after the climatic end ofBreaking Bad, Vince Gilligan createdthe spin-off seriesBetter Call Saul. That show has followed Saul Goodman and other characters before, and after, the events ofBreaking Bad. In 2019, Gilligan directed a film sequel toBreaking Badknown asEl Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. It tied up loose ends left by the award-winning series and was lauded by critics.
The Grand Theft Auto Formula Could Mesh Very Well with Breaking Bad
TheBreaking Badstory is vast and loved by many, and it could have made for afunGrand Theft Auto-like video game. Just likeBreaking Bad,Grand Theft Autofollows characters that make questionable decisions and are thrust deeper into the criminal underworld of whatever city they live in. They must take down adversaries while also avoiding the law in some of the best stories that gaming has to offer. Blending the best stories that TV has to offer withGTAcould be a recipe for success.
Breaking Badcannot just be put into theGrand Theft Autoformula though; there would have to be changes. None ofthe mainBreaking Badcharacterswalk through the streets of Albuquerque guns blazing likeGrand Theft Autocharacters do. The focus ofBreaking Badis very much on the characters instead of large spectacle or set pieces like Rockstar Games likes to do. It would have to be smaller scale, slower, and more reined in compared to games likeGrand Theft Auto 5.
It would not be too hard to mesh theBreaking Badstory witha game likeGrand Theft Auto, but the developer would have to tread carefully if it wanted to match the quality of the shows. However, the likelihood of this occurring is very small as Vince Gilligan has said that he is moving on from the idea. In another reality, gamers may have been able to experience the critically acclaimed story of Walter White from his perspective. Instead, viewers will just have to stick to the award-winning TV shows to get theirBreaking Badfix.
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