Is Ghostbusters: The Video Game Canon? FROZEN EMPIRE UPDATE 

If the video game is still canon, then Gozer’s actions toward Ivo Shandor in Afterlife suddenly gain a lot more context.

I still believe GB: VG is cannon

If Dan Aykroyd says it's canon, then it's canon.

Ghostbusters The Video Game is still the best sequel to the original 2 films. It’ll ALWAYS be canon to me.

Not having the video game as part of canon is kind of disrespectful at this point.

It makes sense that the video game is still canon though.

The video game is canon. Too many callbacks to say it's not.

It kind of makes sense why the librarian and slimer are out of the containment unit at the end of Ghostbusters, the video game it exploded again

I'd really like it to remain canon because it's the last time Harold ramis portrayed Egon

The Video Game was the last time we got the whole crew together. As well as being penned by both Aykroyd and Ramis, and the incredible level of talent and passion that went into it, yeah, TVG is the third Ghostbusters movie.

Harold Ramis being present will always make this game canon to me. We got so many good extra Egon lines we’d have never gotten without the game.

Dan akroyd decides canon to me

There is nothing presented in the newer films that contradict the game’s story in any way. The game is still absolutely part 3 of the overall story.

I think Phoebe saying "It happened 20 years before we were born" isn't a point against the video game being canon bcus she was probably talking about the video of the Gozer incident that they were watching which was 25 years before Phoebe and Podcast were born

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is the third Ghostbusters film.

I still treat the video game as cannon. It just makes sense for it to be. And there are ways you can look at all the discrepancies that make sense for cannon. For example: Gozer being in its traveler form instead of Stay-puft could be because of how it manifested in Afterlife. In AL it climbed out of a portal instead of popping into existence like in TVG. And the Mini-Pufts could be explained as residual waves of that destructor form being dispersed so that it doesn't have to have a destructor form. In a roundabout way it satisfies the "one destructor form, per-god, per-dimension" rule. Also the news sighting GB2 and the Statue of Liberty as the last time the Ghostbusters caused a large amount of damage could be explained as the damage caused to the streats, the museum, the cop car, the building where the statue fell, and even the statue itself. Hell the only way they could've moved the statue back is by disassembling it, shipping it back, repairing the base, and reassembling it. All of that was something the Ghostbusters directly caused. Gozers appearances, and Central Park turning into a graveyard weren't the fault of the Ghostbusters directly.

So stoked to see Channeling Spirits with new videos! Keep up the fantastic work!

I believe the best video-game tie-in doesn't make too much of a change that couldn't fit into a possible sequel, in such a way it could plausibly be canon. At least, it should still be a fun experience without sacrificing too much to make it work. I believe the Ghostbusters Video-game fits fairly nicely, if there are a few strands loose, it isn't anything too bad. The first sequel was undetermined if it was still canon till Frozen Empire, so maybe the next film will confirm the Video-game as canon?

I think they’re leaving the video games canonicity open to interpretation on purpose for all the reasons you mentioned. So they can reference it as a nice call back and avoid having to retcon things if they decide to go with a different story. Also my goodness the game still holds up amazingly!

I mean Ivo Shandor was in Afterlife and he played a significant role in the game. If that doesn’t make the game canon, I don’t know what will.

Really the only way we can get confirmation if the game is still canon is to simply Ask Dan Ackroyd.

I've missed you guys so much. So glad you're back, and on exactly the topics I'd been hoping you'd do vids on. Loved the previous (timeline) one, and that got me thinking about this topic. DARN! I don't wanna wait six more hours!!! Just kidding. Well, I don't, but I'll live with it.

Im still on the fence that just by removing Gozer and the Mandala from the equation, TVG still works perfectly into AL given the established timeline spoken to the side and the time gap letting things not overlap.

One major problem: in the video game, you find Ivo's skull. In Afterlife, his body is perfectly preserved.

Alot of those feel a little too on the nose to not be direct references. Sure shandor's design is coincidental, but the reference to the library differences for example seem like a pretty clear allusion.

In my opinion (as a new fan btw). Looking at Akroyd's' statement, and the connections explained in this (and other) videos. I believe that the timeline is as follows: Ghostbusters 1, 2, The Video game, Afterlife and Frozen Empire. The real Ghostbusters (tv show) and 2016 are not canon, or even connected in 2016's case.

I hope the video game is still canon

WHO YA GONNA CALL?

I still consider the game cannon. Now that we have a look inside the pack, some of the mechanics are altered but I still think the events are all there

Yes Ghostbusters The Video Game is Canon they can't just retcon this game because Harold Ramis and the entire original cast is in it

Thing is Gozer doesnt assume a distructor form in Afterlife just Travaler form. The distructor form lock may still hold true

It can still fit as it is so close to GB2 it still fits into that 30 time gap

I've always liked the idea of the GB Videogame being canon, so I'm inclined to go with your thoughts on this. Sadly as much as I love the IDW books, those can't really be canon to the films as there's too much happening after the videogame to line up with what people were saying in Afterlife. A thought I had when you were talking about Shandor moving operations. Maybe he abandoned NY because something else took control of his slime operation. We don't know when Vigo's portrait came to NY, other than it had been in storage. Maybe it arrived during that time, and Vigo latched onto the slime for his own power, thus weakening it for it's intended purpose. By the time we get to the videogame, Vigo is seemingly weakened and trapped inside his painting with no extraordinary abilities outside of talking and sass.

Ghostbusters the video game I believe should still be Canon because it's the last time the band got back together as one unit before the passing of Harold Ramis AKA Egon Spengler.

I still believe The Video game is canon. Also I believe Ecto-1 & Ecto-1A (who also became Ecto-1B, since in the video game. There's an easter egg of the Ecto-1A door being there) are separate cars of the same model

I consider it canon for the fact alone that Harold was a active part of it alone and they had Alyssa Milano voicing Shandor heiress😍and after watching the first two movies it makes so much fun playing the game seeing references to the old Movies. And it just supports the new Movies with much more lore to it. Heck perhaps the Rookie The Apprentice maybe could even have been Phoebe´s Father who knows???😂 At least storywise a lot of time has passed since the story of the game so that it could fit. They even where inspired of the Games Ghosts since those new ghosts looking more like the ghosts from the game stylish. The question could be made how could Shandor layed in the coffin casket when he was destroyed in the Game or did I messing with the memories is the Architect that turns into that giant destroyer someone else and not shandor himself haven´t played the game for longer time so not sure but it is sweeter and funnier considering the game being Part 3 since the new ones having just subtitles to it. Hope we will get a lot of more Films coming our ways with hopefully more ghosts that´s the only complain I would have to less ghosts they are hunting and catching. And wasn´t it in talks that they would have global teams hunting for ghosts and what about the lame claim that it would be in the UK what wasn´t true for the latest thought they would be in a haunting house in england???? Hopefully the OG´s will be at least one more time being in a Movie with Rick Moranis finally agree to reappear how cool it would be if he and Janine together again fighting side by side with the Boys and damn it Sigourney Weaver Dannah must be back as well what a joke teasing her in afterlife just for fun dang it bring some funny moments with her and Bill. 🤣😛

Here's an idea. The video game itself might not be cannon. But some of the events are. The video game is something that exists in the GB universe, but it's a fictional telling of events that occurred in 1991. It's possible the 1991 in reality was less destructive. Hence why nobody remembers it. But for a fictional retelling in a video game you'd want the visuals to be interesting.

What about the movie Casper, is that cannon? It has a brief cameo by Ray Stantz.

So is Ghostbusters: The Video Game basically the Schrodinger's Cat of the Ghostbusters franchise where it's both canon and non-canon at the same time?

It appears the mini-puffs are a result of Gozer shedding or syphoning it's energy form into lesser bits in order to return to it's original form

Something possibly not worth mentioning is during the final battle Ray says he quit smoking in the 90s. In the game he doesn't smoke but he smokes in the first two movies.

Such great videos! I absolutely love this channel!!

I like to go with the multiverse canon where everything is canon but in their own universe. In the comics, both the video game and 2016 and RGB are canon but in their own dimensions. They are all real in their own sense to me anyway.

This game I still believe it’s canon it’s to good to not be👻🚫

New movie said the sewer dragon bust was the most damage the GBs had caused to the city since Statue of Liberty in 1989. To me, that was the nail in the coffin for video game canon.

And speaking of videogames, the next logical step is to expand spirits unleashed and let us have our teams working for winston's ghost lab. Would love to see it expanded so i can take my custom busters on more adventures!

I imagine that Ghostbusters has something of a split timeline.

Obviously the game is canon; the real question is, "Are Afterlife/Frozen Empire canon?" ;P

6:23-6:28 I hate how brilliant that edit is...

Maybe the Video Game adventure is classified

Stunning video. Thanks for much to doing these.

all i can say is thank you for this. i say we mix the games and movies. cut the bad stuff that doesn't make sense and add everything that embellishes the solid good canon.

8:35 that's because they took a picture on the top of the empire state building and added effects to it

This is the same universe where the vast population of NYC were fooled into thinking that Stay Puft was a mass hallucination despite city damage. I wouldn't trust civilian perspective on what happened when in the Ghostbusters verse. Meanwhile, the events of the video game beautifully explains why Egon went nuts and isolated himself.

The timeline has always been this: GB1-GB2-GB:TVG The shitty fan fiction we got in 2021 and 2024 can be safely ignored as it does not apply to the true canon

I re-installed and started playing it again... forgot how good it was. It’s definitely Ghostbusters 3 for me! Seriously, the cut-scenes alone are better than 90% of the movies coming out of Hollywood today!

6:23-is the best joke on the Internet I’ve heard this month!!!

I would argue that the game is 'soft' canon while the films are 'hard' canon. Meaning that the events of the game happened in the film's timeline, but not exactly or 100% as the game portrays them.

Ghostbusters 2016 and the comics seem to establish the multiverse theory in the property with 2016 being an very extreme universal variant. My head canon is that the video games (as there are two different versions) could exist in a slightly altered universe where events still support a similar outcome resulting in Afterlife and beyond. Even the cartoons kind of support that being the case.

So the Rookie moved to Chicago, Callie lived in Chicago. What if the Rookie is Trevor and Phoebe's father? Yes, Callie calls him a "dirtbag" but what if that is just because they had a bad breakup.

9:21 actually Shandor did this when possessed as the mayor

The real question, is GhostBusters: Spirits Unleashed cannon?

As much as I love the game, it really doesn't make sense for it to be canon anymore. Cause if it is canon, are you telling me that after Ivo Shandor KILLING Gozer at the end of the game (yes, he actually KILLS Gozer because they even show Gozer's remains like his skull) Gozer somehow comes back to life yet again in Afterlife? And also, after you defeat Ivo Shandor as the final boss, he still somehow lives only for him to want to bring back Gozer to be his servant again even though he tried to kill Gozer? Nah, that's too much of a stretch and IT MAKES NO SENSE.

Yes in my book!

6:22 amazing bit lmaoo

This was another well thought out and entertaining video. I love your deep dives into the lore of Ghostbusters. I definitely think the video game is still cannon. As you eloquently pointed out it adds so much to the movies that came after it. I feel the video game is the third part of the original ghostbusters story and the new films are the beginning of the Spengler family's story.

I really want the ghostbusters the video game to be cannon

I think that because not everyone plays video games that whether or not the game is canon is up to each fan. there's not really anything that directly links the events of the game to the new movies aside from a few winks and nods like you mentioned, but there's also nothing that overwrites the events of the game either. so it's basically if you're a gamer and want the game to be canon then it is, but those who aren't gamers aren't required to play the game to enjoy the full storyline of the movies.

What happened to Heidi BTW?

If the games are canon, how come you could find Shandor's skull in Central Park?

I like how you managed to thread some things together but I always believe that canon is driven by the creators and it’s clear that GB1, GB2, Afterlife and FE are canon but the game isn’t. I’d love it to be, but there’s too many differences and there no way that the GB’s would wind back improvements in the vehicles, containment unit, packs etc. awesome video though - always love the GB content 👍

Ramis and Aykroyd didn't write it. Aykroyd has always been an enthusiastic marketer.

I believe the game does exactly what you said and that spring and tie in a lot of things. I believe it is Canon.

It is to me. I dont care how many fan fictions they make in the afterlife series. Someone needs to get reitman to acknowledge it Its sad, they dont even acknowledge spirits unleashed directly and that takes great pains to tie into the new movies. Wouldve loved seeing cat and eddie. Tho there are slight nods. Its always bothered me.how movie directors largely ignore any material not a film. Like dude, we fans have been consuming you expanded universe material, least you can do is hold yourself to it too

I honestly dont see why not Its another franchise which doesnt get much content and every little bit matters

Yes the game is still Canon they even brought of the game to new movies so I don't know why they said it not even Dan Aykroyd said is was the third that's why Bill Murray had no problem doing it so it Canon and they had all of the original actors in it pluse I don't want to see Harold ramis work go in the trash they wouldn't of done it if was going be Canon so it is .

17:25 they're actually marketing toys

Excellent analysis. It'll always be canon in my heart.

I believe it’s Canon. I don’t get why they would try to unconanise someone that fixes Ghostbusters II and acts to the characters & lore.

I believe it to be canon it features the original actors

Game still canon for me ❤🎉 a lot of great memories especially in multiplayer

The game IS Ghostbusters 3. My head canon is GB1, GB2, GBTVG, Afterlife. That's it.

Love the game. I'll always be part of the lore in my book. However.... what's become of the franchise, and the rookie? lol. And whatever other employees/ ghostbusters that worked at those other locations?

To me; the game’s Semi-Canon. Which I mean that while the game obviously has a lot of connections to Afterlife & Frozen Empire, as well as correct timeline placements for many aspects, there are also just as many plot & logic holes when it comes to figuring out how the backstories of some characters line up. Like how Gozer popping up bin NYC or Graveyard in Central Park not making headlines, which is just plain stupid to ignore entirely. So I think of it like this; The game’s events did happen, but in an alternate timeline where Egon simply didn’t freak out about Gozer’s return & left the Ghostbusters, which led to the events of Afterlife. Egon stayed with the Ghostbusters & simply worked about on his work as always. That simple act changes everything & makes all of this work. Obviously, with timelines & alternate dimensions involved, there are going to be some parallels between both the game & the new movies. But they are not exact. Simply put; you can look at the game as supplemental material for various aspects of the movies, but it’s optional if you just see the movies & nothing else. To me, playing the game, I felt like I was taken for a ride or held by the hand to be WITH the Ghostbusters, not actually be a Ghostbuster. Even they so themselves to not get attached to the Rookie & the main reason why we get all these upgrades is because we were essentially the test dummy. 😂 I would have actually liked it if the Rookie had a speaking role to play around with the rest of the cast. But it’s clear what he’s intended to be as a player insert to be part of the story as it unfolds around them; which makes all the sense in the world considering both Ramis & Aykroyd was developing a script for 3 long before a game was considered a potential way to present it. All & all, the game’s really good & I consider it to be a fun addition to Ghostbusters canon, just not in the main timeline of events; but very close enough to pull some details.

I gotta play that.

As far as I'm concerned Afterlife and Frozen Empire are not canon. None of the events described by Ray to Pheobe make any sense. Egon most definitely would not have done those things. It felt more like Bill Murray describing how he felt about Harold Ramis, not how the character Egon would actually behave.

After the last two awful movies I'm happy to consider the game as cannon

God i hate what they did with afterlife/empire. 😢

I'd rather just ignore Afterlife and Frozen Empire

2:24 the ghostbusters actually caused the statue of liberty. they did not cause the cemetery and stay puft.

The rookie moves to chicago and callie is from chicago🤷‍♂️ pheobes dad 100% 😂

Hello there

I think the whole idea of cannon these days does not matter with so many reboot sequels and remakes for so many franchises. To me GB 1, 2 and the video games were written by the same guys and they have the same feel. For me the game is the last real story. The rest is studio/fan fiction.

❤️👻

It's canon to me dammit and so is answer the call but in a different dimension 🤷‍♂️

Honestly like other canons I have heard, the video game is soft canon.

Aside from a couple of points I disliked, I'm generally happy to consider the Video Game canon. Due to the incredibly poor standard of Afterlife and Frozen Empire, however, they are certainly NOT canon, in my mind.

Who cares. It was a good game

The Yes Have Some crew probably don't like this video. I remember how they reacted to a previous video on if the video game is canon lol At the end of the day, all that matters is how each individual person feels about it.

No its not. Great game but Ackroyd no longer has creative control. It was retconned and is no longer canon.