Def Jam Recordings is teasing a return to the video game industry. After teaming up with Electronic Arts for a series of fighting games in the 2000s, the record label has suggested it’s ready to step back into the ring.
“The streets saying we need a new Def Jam game,” the company declared via Twitter.
It added, “Once our twitter hits 1M, we have a special announcement for y’all !”
Once our twitter hits 1M, we have a special announcement for y’all ! ?
— Def Jam Recordings (@defjam) August 10, 2020
Def Jam has around 991,500 followers on Twitter as of Monday night (August 10), so an update isn’t imminent. But the label’s tweet caught the attention of video game developer Virtual Basement as fans started to get their hopes up for a fight game comeback.
“Our DM’s are open and we’re ready when you guys are,” Virtual Basement told Def Jam.
Our DM's are open and we're ready when you guys are. ?
— Virtual Basement® (@VirtualBasement) August 10, 2020
Def Jam’s venture into video games started with 2003’s Def Jam Vendetta, which featured a professional wrestling style and real-life characters signed to the label at the time. DMX, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Joe Budden, Ludacris, Redman and Scarface were among the artists appearing in the critically acclaimed game.
A sequel, Def Jam: Fight For NY, was released by Electronic Arts in 2004 and also garnered critical acclaim. The second game expanded the fighting styles and revamped the roster with Snoop Dogg and Lil Kim as notable additions.
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Def Jam: Icon, the last game licensed by the label, arrived in 2007 but wasn’t well-received.
Unlike the first two, it wasn’t developed by AKI Corporation (a company best known for its work on WWF and WCW’s wrestling games). Since then, the series has been on the sidelines despite occasional teases on social media.
Revisit some of the gameplay from the Def Jam series below.