Celebrities Who Have Featured in Video Games
Celebrities are everywhere in the modern day, whether their status is utilised on social media to promote a product, featured on TV advertisements, or even featured in live casino games. With video games being a huge part of the modern day and one of the most expensive industries in the world, it’s not rare to see a celebrity take the jump into the video game scene. It could be a game based around them or just being a small feature within a cut scene, this piece will identify numerous celebrities who have featured in video games.
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson is one of the world’s most famous actors and is loved by fans around the world. He’s made a name for himself by featuring in so many top tier films such as Avengers: Endgame, The Incredibles and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Not only has Jackson become a global icon for his incredible acting ability, but he has also received appreciation for his efforts towards politics and attitudes towards benefiting the environment. In 2004, Jackson featured in the extremely popular GTA San Andreas video game, playing the character of officer Frank Tenpenny. GTA San Andreas will always be remembered in gaming culture, with the GTA game series being one of the most popular to date. Jackson hasn’t featured in any other of the GTA releases to date, with GTA VI soon to be released over two decades later.
Travis Scott
One of the biggest rappers in the 21st century, Travis Scott, is known around the world for his incredible live performances, high energy songs, and now even his involvement in the fashion industry with a countless number of collabs. His music has reached all four corners of the globe, becoming an icon. During his career in music, Travis Scott, also known as Cactus Jack, has received countless awards from all over the world, even receiving 10 Grammy nominations.
He’s a big name known widely for not just his music, and has even managed to find himself in a video game. In 2020, a virtual Travis Scott performed a range of his top songs, including Butterfly Effect, Sicko Mode, and The Scotts, to an audience of over 27 million Fortnite players. The event was so groundbreaking, destroying video game records and outshining the first concert in the game, which featured the DJ Marshmello. Travis even received his own item in the game, allowing players to play as the rapper during their sessions.
Ice Cube
The once rapper turned actor, Ice Cube, is no stranger to stepping into different roles outside of his initial music career that brought him so much success. The Grammy winner has plenty of accolades to his name after his incredible impact on the music industry, with hit songs including It Was a Good Day, Check Yo Self and You Know How We Do It. Ice Cube’s confidence, audacity and entertaining personality made him a perfect fit for the big screens, allowing him to feature in a variety of films, moving the rapper into the TV and film industry. Some of the films he has featured in include 21 Jump Street, Friday and Boyz n the Hood.
In 2010, Ice Cube featured in the iconic Call of Duty Black Ops video game, playing the character Joseph Bowman, a key part in the title. The U.S Navy Seals inspire the character during his mission in the campaign mode, and mark the first of many celebrity collaborations in the Call of Duty series. The character was key to the storyline and perfectly transpired Ice Cube’s personality into one of the most popular game series of all time.
Ariana Grande
Another one of the biggest artists of the 21st century, Ariana Grande, is a global phenomenon admired by many fans worldwide. Performing tours in almost every continent and reaching billions of streams with her music, she has made a name for herself, not just in music but in pop culture in general. She isn’t a stranger to the stage either, performing plenty of shows, with her main breakthrough coming from Nickelodeon’s hit show Victorious, where she played the character of Cat Valentine.
The global icon hasn’t just stopped at film, TV and music, but also stepped into the video game world, featuring in a few notable titles. Just like the previously mentioned Travis Scott, Ariana has featured in one of the biggest games in the world, Fortnite, even being presented with her own skin as well as a concert for fans to enjoy. However, she has also appeared in the Final Fantasy series as a playable character, complete with her own figure and equipment. Her love for the gaming industry is clear with her numerous video game appearances, and her ongoing collaboration with Fortnite might just be the beginning of her long relationship with the industry.
