The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced an innovative video game titled Lili, which draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s play MacBeth. This modern adaptation immerses players in a “screen-life thriller” where they interact with Lady MacBeth’s devices as hackers break into her personal technology.

Set in a stylized, neo-noir version of contemporary Iran, Lili blends live-action footage with gameplay elements, transforming the play’s witches into tech-savvy hackers disrupting Lady MacBeth’s digital life. The game promises to explore significant themes including technological domination and institutional violence, reflecting the life experiences of its lead actress, Zar Amir, who portrays Lady MacBeth.

Lili, developed in collaboration with independent game studio iNK Stories and Alambic Production, aims for a release later in 2025. This creative endeavor is notable as RSC’s foray into video gaming, merging classical storytelling with interactive media. In a landscape where Shakespeare’s works have previously inspired games like Elsinore, this game hopes to continue that tradition with a unique twist.