Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Upcoming video game movies - Firewatch
Adventure Games New Xbox boss says great games make you "feel something," unexpectedly calls out 2016's Firewatch
Upcoming Xbox Series Games banner image showing Jason from GTA 6, Marcus from Gears of War E-Day, a steampunk robotic figure in Clockwork Revolution, and Fable's protagonist speaking with a man who has a sword
FPS Games Upcoming Xbox Series X games for 2026 and beyond
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 screenshot of Verso, a man with black hair with white streaks running through his fringe
RPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is "the best of our medium," says former Xbox head, because games are art and human
Fable 4 screenshot showing the hero holding a sword and sitting next to a man clad in armor called Humphrey
RPGs Fable 4: Everything we know so far about the new Fable game
best Xbox One games
Games The best Xbox One games of all time
Gears of War E-Day release date: A close-up of Marcus Fenix with his face covered in blood during the Gears of War E-Day trailer.
Gears of War Gears of War: E-Day – Everything we know about the upcoming shooter
Control Resonant
Action RPGs Control Resonant: Everything we know about Control 2
Pragmata screenshot showing Diana, an android who looks like a little girl with long blonde hair, using what appears to be a hacking ability
Action Games Pragmata: Everything you need to know about Capcom's new sci-fi adventure game
A close-up of the poster for the upcoming game, Physint.
Action Games Physint: Everything we know about Hideo Kojima's new game
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in Sonic 3
Movies Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about in 2026 and beyond
God of War Ragnarok
Fantasy Shows Everything we know about Amazon's God of War TV show, including the Kratos casting
Life is Strange Reunion gameplay screenshot
Games Life is Strange: Reunion – Everything we know so far
Marvel's Blade concept art by Sergey Kolesov and Jean-Luc Monnet showing Blade overlooking a quarantined Paris at night
Action Games Marvel's Blade: Everything we know so far
A screenshot of James Bond in 007 First Light's reveal trailer.
Games 007 First Light: Everything we know so far about IO Interactive's new Bond game
In Aphelion, protagonist Ariane climbs out of the wreckage of the ship which crashed on the ice planet of Persephone
Adventure Games I wasn't expecting Alien vibes from the Life is Strange dev's new sci-fi game: "We intend the Nemesis to be difficult"
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Pokemon Day deals
  1. Games
  2. Action
  3. Quantum Break

Quantum Break is part game, part tv show, all action

Features
By Ryan Taljonick published 12 June 2013

The ultimate(?) transmedia experience

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Time after time

Time after time

When Quantum Break was unveiled during Microsoft's Xbox One reveal event, we had no clue as to what the hell it actually was. It looked like a game--except it also looked like a TV show. Turns out it's both. During a behind closed doors look at Remedy Entertainment's latest project, creative director Sam Lake provided a few more details on what he calls a "cinematic action story."

The premise is centered around a time warping experiment gone wrong, which grants three people--protagonists Jack Joyce and Beth Wilder, as well as antagonist Paul Serene--with time-bending powers. Good ol' Paul uses his for evil, whereas Jack and Beth aim to reverse the damaging time anomalies caused by the aforementioned experiment. This story is told through a mix of traditional third-person gunplay action (think Max Payne) and investigative sequences, all of which let you harness some badass time abilities. Unfortunately, the folks at Remedy wouldn't share many details regarding how the game's mechanics or how it plays.

But Quantum Break isn't just a game; it's a transmedia experience, with much of its story told via a live-action television series. When you buy the Xbox One-exclusive title, the game and the first season of its TV counterpart come packaged on the disc--Lake mentioned it'll be episodic in nature. During certain parts of the game, you'll have to make decisions that will drastically alter the course of your story, which also creates a personalized live-action television series tailored to your choices. We're a bit worried that this might be a bit intrusive, though, in that the show could be more of a necessary component to the overall experience than a supplemental one. Details are scarce at this time, but still, this admittedly ambitious transmedia experiment has us eager to see more.

Check out the following images for more information about Quantum Break.

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Monarch is the name of an organization owned and operated by the evil Paul Serene--you'll probs be shooting a lot of these dudes.

Monarch is the name of an organization owned and operated by the evil Paul Serene--you'll probs be shooting a lot of these dudes.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Protagonists Jack and Beth can supposedly use their time powers during battle, though we didn't get to see this in action.

Protagonists Jack and Beth can supposedly use their time powers during battle, though we didn't get to see this in action.

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
In addition to gunplay, there are also some investigative scenes in which you'll have to use time anomalies to your advantage.

In addition to gunplay, there are also some investigative scenes in which you'll have to use time anomalies to your advantage.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
And THIS is a scene from the live-action TV series of Quantum Break, featuring a mega creepy little girl.

And THIS is a scene from the live-action TV series of Quantum Break, featuring a mega creepy little girl.

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
CATEGORIES
Xbox One Platforms Xbox
Ryan Taljonick
Ryan Taljonick
Social Links Navigation

Ryan was once the Executive Editor of GamesRadar, before moving into the world of games development. He worked as a Brand Manager at EA, and then at Bethesda Softworks, before moving to 2K. He briefly went back to EA and is now the Director of Global Marketing Strategy at 2K. 

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
GamesRadar+
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Read more
Big in 2026
Control Resonant may be an action-RPG, but Remedy isn't veering into hellishly-challenging territory: "There are no parries, there is no back-and-forth with a single enemy"
 
 
Clockwork Revolution
With Clockwork Revolution, inXile aims to "bring the level of reactivity from our isometric titles into something first-person"
 
 
Clockwork Revolution screenshot showing the player character in conversation with a mechanical NPC
Clockwork Revolution: Everything we know so far
 
 
Exodus
More than Mass Effect's spiritual successor, Exodus wants to pull decades of player choice into a single story
 
 
007: First Light
Boy, 007: First Light really looks like Uncharted but with Hitman-style stealth, and honestly hell yeah
 
 
Control Resonant
Control Resonant is not only real but an action-RPG starring Dylan Faden, set across an open-ended, embattled Manhattan
 
 
Latest in Action
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Sorry, ZeLink shippers, Zelda actor still thinks the 40-year-old pairing is better left "ambiguous"
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda actor would love to see Ocarina of Time remade in Breath of the Wild's engine: "What's not to love?"
 
 
A guitar player in KISS-style makeup stands on stage in Stage Tour
Guitar Hero vets return with Stage Tour, a new rhythm game coming this year with a closed alpha playtest launching soon
 
 
A colorful train careens down a track in Denshattack!
This Steam Next Fest demo has you drive a train like Tony Hawk rides a skateboard with impeccable Dreamcast-core vibes
 
 
A plane in the air in Delivery Must Complete
The comically long name of this Steam publisher led me to the discovery of a sick Ace Combat and DMC-inspired roguelike
 
 
Batman standing on a rooftop at night, looking over Gotham City, before fighting crime in one of the best superhero games, Batman: Arkham Knight
After a string of flops, Batman Arkham and Hogwarts Legacy publisher teases a "return to some of our biggest franchises"
 
 
Latest in Features
Marathon cinematic shot of assassin runner
Marathon's UI is a headache that I fear will send me right back to Arc Raiders – tedious even for Bungie's standards
 
 
In Pokemon Winds and Waves, the large whale-like Pokemon Wailord shoots water up from its blow hole on the surface of the ocean
The 5-year wait for Pokemon Winds and Waves is unprecedented, but it looks like Nintendo has learned its lesson from Scarlet and Violet
 
 
A review photo of Crucial's DDR5 Pro RAM next to an RTX 5080 review image
Micron wants your next GPU to have 96GB of VRAM in it, but I don't really know who it's expecting will make it for you
 
 
Pokemon Red and Blue key art
"We had no idea this would be such a phenomenon": As Pokemon Red and Blue turn 30, here's how Game Freak created one of the most important RPGs of all time
 
 
In Inkonbini: One Store. Many Stories, protagonist Makoto stands in front of the convivence store she's working at for her auntie. GamesRadar+ Indie Spotlight logo can be seen in the top right-hand corner of the image.
I've been writing about new indie games for years, and these are the 10 best Steam Next Fest demos to play this weekend
 
 
Stardew Valley Robin
Stardew Valley at 10: How a decade in the countryside has helped long-distance relationships thrive
 
 
  1. Lego Pikachu and Poke Ball set against a dark background
    1
    Lego Pikachu and Poke Ball might be pole-position for one of the biggest releases this year, but in the end the fragile final result can be a real pain in the butt
  2. 2
    Resident Evil Requiem review: "A soaring piece of survival horror theater that balances intense action with absolute terror across two heroes, and I can't pick a favorite"
  3. 3
    Demon Tides review: "Super Mario Odyssey and Wind Waker collide in this expressive 3D platformer that's already one of my games of the year"
  4. 4
    This Bloodborne-style board game is one of the best boss battlers I've ever played, hands-down
  5. 5
    Styx: Blades of Greed review: "What if Metal Gear Solid 5 went goblin mode? This dark fantasy open-world stealth 'em up is devilishly creative"
  1. Ghostface in Scream 7
    1
    Scream 7 review: "Never as sharp as the series' best, but still has a few neat tricks up its billowing sleeve"
  2. 2
    Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  3. 3
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  4. 4
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  5. 5
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  1. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
    1
    Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
  2. 2
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  3. 3
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  5. 5
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...