Plants vs. Zombies#Other media
{{Short description|Video game franchise}}
{{About|the franchise|the first game in the series|Plants vs. Zombies (video game){{!}}Plants vs. Zombies (video game)|the ongoing comic book series|Plants vs. Zombies#Comics{{!}}Plants vs. Zombies § Comics}}
{{Redirect|PvZ|other uses|PVZ (disambiguation){{!}}PVZ}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox video game series
| image = Plants vs Zombies logo.png
| caption =
| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|macOS|iOS|Xbox 360|PlayStation 3|Nintendo DS|DSiWare|Android|Windows Phone|PlayStation Vita|BlackBerry Tablet OS|BlackBerry 10|Xbox One|PlayStation 4|Nintendo Switch|J2ME}}
| developer = PopCap Games
| publisher = {{ubl|Electronic Arts|PopCap Games|Dark Horse Comics}}
| genre = {{ubl|Tower defense game (Mainline games)|Third-person shooter (Garden Warfare games and Battle for Neighborville)|Digital collectible card game (Plants vs. Zombies Heroes)}}
| spinoffs =
| creator = George Fan
| artist = Rich Werner
| writer = Stephen Notley
| composer = Laura Shigihara
| first release version = Plants vs. Zombies
| first release date = May 5, 2009
| latest release version = Plants vs. Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia
| latest release date = January 17, 2024 (soft launch)
}}
Plants vs. Zombies is a video game franchise developed by PopCap Games, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts (EA). The series follows the affiliates of David "Crazy Dave" Blazing as they use his plants to defend against a zombie invasion, led by Dr. Edgar George Zomboss. The first game, Plants vs. Zombies (2009), was developed and released by PopCap before its acquisition by EA. After PopCap Games's acquisition, EA expanded the game into a franchise with games on many different platforms, including a comic book series written by Paul Tobin and published by Dark Horse Comics.
The series has a variety of game genres. The original game and its sequels Plants vs. Zombies Adventures, Plants vs. Zombies 2, and Plants vs. Zombies 3 are tower defense games where the player has to use plants with different abilities to defend against a zombie invasion. The spin-off Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare and its sequels are third-person shooters where the player can play as either the plants or zombies in multiplayer (and beginning in Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, single player) matches. Plants vs. Zombies Heroes is a digital collectable card game with characters from previous installments.
History
{{Timeline of release years
| range1 = 2008
| range1_color = #97dc2e #ccc
| compressempty = yes
| 2009 = Plants vs. Zombies
| 2011 = Social Edition
| 2012a = Great Wall Edition
| 2012b = China Edition
| 2013a = Endless Edition
| 2013b = Adventures
| 2013c = Plants vs. Zombies Comics
| 2013d = Plants vs. Zombies 2
| 2014a = Dragon Palace Edition
| 2014b = Garden Warfare
| 2015 = Journey to the West
| 2016a = Garden Warfare 2
| 2016b = Heroes
| 2019 = Battle for Neighborville
| 2024 = Plants vs. Zombies 3
}}
=Main series=
On April 1, 2009, PopCap released a music video for the song "Zombies on Your Lawn" by Laura Shigihara to promote Plants vs. Zombies, also included at the game's conclusion.{{cite magazine |url= https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/90635-PopCap-Reveals-Plants-vs-Zombies |title=PopCap Reveals Plants vs. Zombies |last=NG |first=Keane |date=April 1, 2009 |magazine=The Escapist |access-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-date=February 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201214040/https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/90635-PopCap-Reveals-Plants-vs-Zombies |url-status=live }} A PopCap spokesperson, Garth Chouteau, revealed in an IGN interview that Plants vs. Zombies would be released soon on PC and Mac.{{cite interview |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/969/969145p1.html |title=No Joke — PopCap Reveals Plants vs. Zombies |access-date=August 11, 2010 |last=Ocampo |first=Jason |date=April 4, 2009 |website=IGN |quote=PC and Mac initially, with other platforms under consideration. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405054348/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/969/969145p1.html |archive-date=April 5, 2009}} On April 22, 2009, PopCap released an official game trailer of Plants vs. Zombies on YouTube.{{cite magazine |url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91224-Battle-Plants-With-Your-Own-Zombie |title=Battle Plants With Your Own Zombies |last=NG |first=Keane |magazine=The Escapist |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120183920/https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91224-Battle-Plants-With-Your-Own-Zombie |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/spudow-plants-vs-zombies-trailer-zombie-maker |last=Walker |first=John |title=SPUDOW! Plants Vs Zombies Trailer, Zombie Maker |website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=January 26, 2021}} During the promotion of Plants vs. Zombies, PopCap released a demo version of the game that could be played for thirty minutes.{{cite news |url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/plants-vs-zombies-demo-eating-brains-right-now-130844.phtml |title=Plants vs. Zombies demo eating brains right now |last=Chester |first=Nick |work=Destructoid |date=May 4, 2009 |access-date=December 4, 2020}} Plants vs. Zombies was officially released on May 5, 2009, for PC and Mac,{{cite news |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/05/popcap-launches-plants-vs-zombies-game-for-pc-and-mac |title=PopCap Launches Plants vs. Zombies Game for PC and Mac |author= |website=IGN |date=May 5, 2009 |access-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-date=September 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913132436/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/05/popcap-launches-plants-vs-zombies-game-for-pc-and-mac |url-status=live }} by 2013 switching from a $2.99 gameplay cost to free-to-play on iOS and Android devices. Critics on mobile devices give the game an average of 4.3-4.8 star ratings.{{Cite news |date=2014-02-13 |title=Plants vs Zombies drops in-app fee |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26172424 |access-date=2022-10-24}} From 2011 to 2014, the first game was adapted and expanded to the Chinese market as Plants vs. Zombies Social Edition, Plants vs. Zombies: Great Wall Edition, Plants vs. Zombies: China Edition, Plants vs. Zombies: Endless Edition, Plants vs. Zombies: Dragon Palace Edition, and Plants vs. Zombies: Journey to the West.{{cite web |url=https://www.techinasia.com/plants-vs-zombies-great-wall-edition-for-china-142 |title=Plants vs. Zombies: Great Wall Edition Hits China, Shakes You Down For Small Change |last=Millward |first=Steven |website=Tech in Asia |date=May 23, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2012 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/3/26/4146676/plants-vs-zombies-china-great-wall-edition-gdc |title=Piracy and plush counterfeits key to Plants vs. Zombies{{’}} surprise success in China |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |website=Polygon |date=March 26, 2013 |access-date=March 26, 2013 }}{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/news/popcap-games-adapted-plants-vs-090023110.html |title=How Popcap Games Adapted Plants vs. Zombies with Resounding Success in China |last=Kun |first=Cheng |website=Yahoo! News |date=August 2, 2013 |access-date=August 2, 2013 }}
PopCap Games and its assets were bought by EA on July 12, 2011, for 750 million US dollars.{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2011/07/12/ea-popcap-acquire-750m/ |title=Electronic Arts buys PopCap for $750M |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |last2=Lynley |first2=Matthew |website=VentureBeat |date=July 12, 2011 |access-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104031452/https://venturebeat.com/2011/07/12/ea-popcap-acquire-750m/ |url-status=live }} Fifty employees were laid off in the Seattle studio of PopCap Games on August 21, 2012, to mark a switch of focus to mobile and social gaming.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/21/report-layoffs-hit-popcap-international-studios-shuttered |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |title=Report: Layoffs Hit PopCap, International Studios Shuttered |website=IGN |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116100601/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/21/report-layoffs-hit-popcap-international-studios-shuttered |url-status=live }}
On August 20, 2012, PopCap announced that they were working on a sequel to Plants vs. Zombies.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/plants-vs-zombies-2-announced-hordes-of-new-plant-and-zombie-types/ |title=Plants vs. Zombies 2 announced: 'hordes of new plant and zombie types' |last=Tom |first=Senior |magazine=PC Gamer |date=August 20, 2012 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024816/https://www.pcgamer.com/plants-vs-zombies-2-announced-hordes-of-new-plant-and-zombie-types/ |url-status=live }} Its release date would be set at late spring of 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/20/plants-vs-zombies-sequel-out-late-spring-2013 |title=Plants VS. Zombies Sequel out Late Spring 2013 |last=Krupa |first=Daniel |website=IGN |date=August 20, 2012 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526214540/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/20/plants-vs-zombies-sequel-out-late-spring-2013 |url-status=live }} However, the game's status was in doubt shortly after the announcement when the company went through a period of layoffs.
In May 2013, PopCap Games released a trailer revealing a sequel to the first game, titled Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/plants-vs-zombies-sequel-shambling-toward-release-july-6C9801258 |title='Plants vs. Zombies' sequel shambling toward release in July |last=Yannick |first=LeJacq |date=May 6, 2013 |work=NBC News |access-date=January 7, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512184635/http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/plants-vs-zombies-sequel-shambling-toward-release-july-6C9801258 |archive-date=May 12, 2013 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/plants-vs-zombies-2-its-about-time-coming-in-july |title=Plants Vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time Coming in July |last=Goldfarp |first=Andrew |website=IGN |date=May 6, 2013 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111232224/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/plants-vs-zombies-2-its-about-time-coming-in-july |url-status=live }} The game was soft-launched for the iOS in Australia and New Zealand on July 10, 2013,{{cite web |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/07/plants-vs-zombies-2-is-weeks-away-but-aussies-get-to-play-today/ |title=Plants Vs Zombies 2 Is Weeks Away, But Aussies Get To Play Today |last=Fahey |first=Mike |website=Kotaku |date=July 10, 2013 |access-date=January 1, 2021 |archive-date=December 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225212440/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/07/plants-vs-zombies-2-is-weeks-away-but-aussies-get-to-play-today/ |url-status=dead }} and was officially released on August 14, 2013, as a freemium title.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/14/plants-vs-zombies-2-launching-worldwide-tonight |title=Plants vs. Zombies 2 Launching Worldwide Tonight |last=Davis |first=Justin |website=IGN |date=August 14, 2013 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111005449/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/14/plants-vs-zombies-2-launching-worldwide-tonight |url-status=live }} The game featured new locations and plants along with the addition of plant food, a power-up that can be used to enhance a plant for a short period and can either be bought using in-game currency or acquired by defeating zombies that are glowing green.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/17/plants-vs-zombies-2-review |title=Plants vs. Zombies 2 Review |last=Shea |first=Cam |website=IGN |date=July 17, 2013 |access-date=January 8, 2021}} There are four other power-ups in the game, all of which are bought with coins, the in-game currency. Along with these new add ons, the game continues to make updates from time to time. According to EA News, the Arena and Penny's Pursuit updates, which are different game modes within the game, have been some of their latest major updates, aside from all the mini add ons.{{Cite web |last=Arts |first=Electronic |date=2016-11-15 |title=Plants vs. Zombies 2 - Free Mobile Game - EA Official Site |url=https://www.ea.com/games/plants-vs-zombies/plants-vs-zombies-2 |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=Electronic Arts Inc. |language=en}}
In July 2019, EA announced Plants vs. Zombies 3, another free-to-play mobile title in the series. It was launched in a pre-alpha state for Android in July 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019/07/18/plants-vs-zombies-3/ |title='Plants vs. Zombies 3' is on the way and you can test it now |first=Kris |last=Holt |date=July 18, 2019 |access-date=July 18, 2019 |work=Engadget |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718175732/http://www.engadget.com/2019/07/18/plants-vs-zombies-3/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/18/20699135/plants-vs-zombies-3-announced-alpha-android-google-play |title=EA announces Plants vs. Zombies 3 |first=Andrew |last=Webster |date=July 18, 2019 |access-date=July 18, 2019 |work=The Verge |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718150908/https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/18/20699135/plants-vs-zombies-3-announced-alpha-android-google-play |url-status=live }} The game soft-launched in February 2020 in the Philippines, Romania, and Ireland.{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2020/02/28/plants-vs-zombies-3-soft-launch-available-now-free-online/ |title='Plants Vs. Zombies 3' from PopCap and EA Has Soft Launched in Philippines, Romania, and Ireland |last=Madnani |first=Mikhail |website=Touch Arcade |date=February 28, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111200606/https://toucharcade.com/2020/02/28/plants-vs-zombies-3-soft-launch-available-now-free-online/ |url-status=live }} It was then made unavailable in October 2020, becoming unplayable in November 2020. EA has plans to release an improved version of the game in the future.{{cite news |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/74798/ea-pulls-plants-vs-zombies-3-from-soft-launch/ |title=EA pulls Plants vs. Zombies 3 from soft launch |last=Forde |first=Matthew |website=Pocket Gamer |date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107161828/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/74798/ea-pulls-plants-vs-zombies-3-from-soft-launch/ |url-status=live }} On September 7, 2021, Plants vs. Zombies 3 was soft-launched again with substantial changes, such as two-dimensional graphics and the return of the Sunflower as a plantable plant, having the same purpose in the previous iterations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ea.com/games/plants-vs-zombies/plants-vs-zombies-2/news/a-new-vision-for-pvz3|title=A New Vision for PVZ 3 Has Taken Root!|date=September 7, 2021}} On January 17, 2024, Plants vs. Zombies 3 was soft launched again, this time as Plants vs. Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia in select regions,{{cite news|url=https://www.ea.com/games/plants-vs-zombies/plants-vs-zombies-3/news/soft-launch-announcement|title=Plants vs. Zombies™ 3 Soft Launch!|publisher=Electronic Arts|date=17 January 2024|access-date=22 January 2024}} adapting storylines and characters from the Plants vs. Zombies comic book series (written by Paul Tobin, illustrated by Ron Chan, and published by Dark Horse Comics to the app Plants vs. Zombies Comics, as well as physically), including Tugboat the Zombie, Nate Timely, and Patrice Blazing.{{Cite tweet|last=Chan|first=Ron|user=RonDanChan|number=1748408830558667117|title=OMG! Looks like Patrice Blazing, the character @PaulTobin and I created for the Plants vs. Zombies comics published by @DarkHorseComics, has made her way into the actual games!}}
=Spin-offs=
A spin-off called Plants vs. Zombies Adventures was announced in March 2013{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/03/26/pvz-adventures-coming-soon/ |title=Plants vs. Zombies shuffles to Facebook; sequel due in summer |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |website=VentureBeat |date=March 26, 2013 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916234301/http://venturebeat.com/2013/03/26/pvz-adventures-coming-soon/ |url-status=live }} and was released on May 20, 2013 on Facebook. The game added new locations and new plants. It also had a gameplay feature in which the player had a limited amount of plants and had to grow more plants at an in-game farm.{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/20/4348376/plants-vs-zombies-adventures-facebook-game-youll-want-to-play |title='Plants vs. Zombies Adventures' is a Facebook game you'll actually want to play |last=Webster |first=Andrew |work=The Verge |date=May 20, 2013 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-date=December 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206033226/http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/20/4348376/plants-vs-zombies-adventures-facebook-game-youll-want-to-play |url-status=live }} In July 2014, it was announced that Plants vs. Zombies Adventures would close on October 12, 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/ea-announces-closure-of-plants-vs-zombies-adventures-on-facebook/ |title=EA Announces Closure of Plants vs Zombies Adventures on Facebook |last=Shaul |first=Brandon |website=AdWeek |date=July 24, 2014 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109005212/https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/ea-announces-closure-of-plants-vs-zombies-adventures-on-facebook/ |url-status=live }}
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare was announced at E3 2013 as a multiplayer third-person shooter game made for PC and consoles.{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/79567/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-coming-to-e3 |title=Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare coming to E3 |last=Yoan |first=Andrew |website=Shacknews |date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120184116/https://www.shacknews.com/article/79567/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-coming-to-e3 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/10/e3-2013-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-announced |title=E3 2013: Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare Announced |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |website=IGN |date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111005505/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/10/e3-2013-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-announced |url-status=live }} Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare was released on February 25, 2014, in North America and on February 27, 2014, in Europe.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/16/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-delayed |title=Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare Delayed |last=Karmali |first=Luke |date=January 16, 2014 |website=IGN |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117102658/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/16/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-delayed |url-status=live }} A sequel, Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, was teased in June 2015 and was officially announced at E3 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-08-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-2-teased-ahead-of-e3-reveal |title=Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 teased ahead of E3 reveal |first=Tom |last=Phillips |work=Eurogamer |date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=June 21, 2015 |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610153112/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-08-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-2-teased-ahead-of-e3-reveal |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-2-announced/ |title=Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 announced |last=Savage |first=Phil |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=January 8, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617205831/http://www.pcgamer.com/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-2-announced/ |archive-date=June 17, 2015 }} The game was released on February 23, 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/games/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-2 |title=Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 |website=IGN |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111005654/https://www.ign.com/games/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-2 |url-status=live }} On March 10, 2016, PopCap announced Plants vs. Zombies Heroes, a digital collectible card game in the style of tower defense. It was soft released to certain countries on the same day,{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108061053/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/10/plants-vs-zombies-heroes-card-game |archive-date=November 8, 2016 |url-status=live |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/10/plants-vs-zombies-heroes-card-game |title=Collectible card game 'Plants vs. Zombies Heroes' in the works |first=Jonathon |last=Dornbush |date=March 10, 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 6, 2016 }} and was fully released internationally on October 18, 2016.{{cite news |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/10/18/plants-vs-zombies-heroes-enters-the-mobile-digital-card-game-arena/ |title=Plants vs. Zombies Heroes enters the mobile digital card game arena |last=Minotti |first=Mike |work=VentureBeat |date=October 18, 2016 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108120609/http://venturebeat.com/2016/10/18/plants-vs-zombies-heroes-enters-the-mobile-digital-card-game-arena/ |url-status=live }}
In August 2019, a closed beta of a sequel to Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 codenamed "Picnic" was made available to select players through invites.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/22/20703831/plants-vs-zombies-shooter-picnic-alpha-garden-warfare-3 |title=EA sending out alpha invites for new Plants vs. Zombies shooter |last=McWhertor |first=Mike |magazine=Polygon |date=July 22, 2019 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111210950/https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/22/20703831/plants-vs-zombies-shooter-picnic-alpha-garden-warfare-3 |url-status=live }} On September 4, 2019, EA announced the sequel's title; Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. It was released in an early access state that same date. The game was fully released on October 18, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/new-plants-vs-zombies-shooter-announced-goes-live-tod-1837874728 |title=New Plants Vs. Zombies Shooter Announced, Goes Live Today |first=Mike |last=Fahey |work=Kotaku |date=April 9, 2019 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915024732/https://kotaku.com/new-plants-vs-zombies-shooter-announced-goes-live-tod-1837874728 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/11/20859185/plants-vs-zombies-ea-release-neighborville |title=How EA and Plants vs. Zombies are battling binge culture |first=Xavier |last=Nelson |magazine=Polygon |date=September 11, 2019 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914004246/https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/11/20859185/plants-vs-zombies-ea-release-neighborville |url-status=live }}
A cancelled single player Plants vs. Zombies game had been in the works within EA from about 2015 to 2017. Known as "Project Hot Tub" in reference to Hot Tub Time Machine, the game was to have been an action game along the lines of the Uncharted series but maintaining its family-friendly nature, featuring two teenage siblings that travelled through time to fight zombies. The game was being developed by PopCap Vancouver. While a vertical slice of the game had been shown off to EA executives in 2017, EA opted to cancel the project to pull in more resources to Visceral Games to support their work on the Star Wars game under the name Project Ragtag, which had been languishing for several years. Despite this, EA cancelled Project Ragtag in October 2017, shutting down Visceral Games, and the former PopCap Vancouver team was relocated across other EA studios.{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/how-a-plants-vs-zombies-game-died-so-a-star-wars-game-could-live-and-then-also-die | title = How a Plants vs. Zombies Game Died so a Star Wars Game Could Live (and Then Also Die) | first = Rebekah | last = Valentine | date = October 8, 2022 | accessdate = October 23, 2022 | work = IGN }}
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Other media
=Comics=
Since July 2013, Dark Horse Comics has published a Plants vs. Zombies ongoing comic book series, following teenagers Nate Timely and Patrice Blazing as they protect Neighborville from the zombie armies of Dr. Edgar Zomboss, with the help of Patrice's uncle, David "Crazy Dave" Blazing, and his own legion of genetically-modified sentient plants, accessible via the app Plants vs. Zombies Comics.{{cite web |last=Mosseri |first=Adam |title=Plants vs. Zombies Comics Now Available on the App Store |url=https://www.iclarified.com/32056/plants-vs-zombies-comics-now-available-on-the-app-store |publisher=iClarified |access-date=19 July 2013 |date=19 July 2013}} Elements and characters from the comic book series were later adapted to the franchise's video game instalments, and vice-versa,The Art of Plants vs. Zombies. Dark Horse Comics, 2013. in particular Plants vs. Zombies 3.
=Film=
In April 2022, Plants vs. Zombies artist and character co-creator Rich Werner revealed that a Plants vs. Zombies animated feature film had been fully pitched at DreamWorks Animation,{{Cite tweet|last=Werner|first=Rich|user=rich_werner|number=1518156378216407040|title=Sorry bro. So lame!! I was at Dreamworks for a pitch of an animated movie of Plants VS Zombies. Alas. Nothing came of it :(}} with "a full script reading and a room full of concept art" by Peter Zaslav,{{cite web |last=Zaslav |first=Peter |title=Plants vs. Zombies Concept Art — Additional Animation Projects — Peter Zaslav |url=https://www.peterzaslav.com/additionalprojects/vgyo3qjvq4y22q6z7fxu56z4364dfr |publisher=Peter Zaslav |access-date=May 1, 2022 |date=May 1, 2022}}{{Cite tweet|last=Werner|first=Rich|user=rich_werner|number=1518265619686117376|title=There was a full script reading and a room full of concept art. Was wild.}} with Werner listing out what the intended plot of the film had been in an interview that May.{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIkBmzpjZP0|title=The Plot of the Cancelled Plants vs. Zombies Movie is Revealed to Me!! {{!}} Interview|date=May 1, 2022|last=Morales|first=Wilson|access-date=May 1, 2022|via=YouTube|work=La Granja|quote=When the existence of the film became known, I contacted Rich Werner, who presented it to DreamWorks. This is what he told me.}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official|https://www.ea.com/ea-studios/popcap/plants-vs-zombies}}
{{PopCap}}
{{Electronic Arts}}
Category:Electronic Arts franchises