Photo credit: venturebeat.com
Stray Kite Studios, an independent team formed by experienced developers, has unveiled their debut original game, Wartorn.
This new title is crafted by industry veterans who have contributed to well-known franchises such as Age of Empires, Borderlands, and BioShock, presenting a unique blend of real-time tactics and roguelite gameplay.
In Wartorn, players will accompany two elven sisters on a quest to bring their family back together. Throughout their journey, they will face complex moral questions and confront various internal and external challenges, leveraging elemental and physics-based mechanics to aid in their fight for survival. The game is set to enter early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store in the spring of 2025.
“Wartorn prompts players to navigate through the disorder of a fractured world while discovering meaning and joy through acts of selflessness,” stated Paul Hellquist, the creative director and cofounder of Stray Kite Studios. “We’ve dedicated ourselves to crafting a game that not only serves as entertainment but also inspires meaningful contemplation about sacrifice, survival, and the connections that bind us.”
The narrative unfolds in a fantasy realm devastated by extremism and the disintegration of longstanding ties. Players will experience the struggles of an extended family as they attempt to survive and reunite. The game challenges players to make difficult choices, ranging from who receives nourishment to determining which lives can be preserved, all while grappling with the ethical implications of violence and sacrifice.
From its inception, Stray Kite Studios has sought to distinguish Wartorn within the tactics genre. Players are encouraged to employ clever strategies and master abilities during intensely personal battles, all supported by a carefully crafted aesthetic.
Key features of Wartorn include:
Dynamic Combat: The combat system in Wartorn allows players to manipulate elemental forces such as fire, water, and lightning, leading to exciting interactions that create unique tactical scenarios. Players can ignite oil to engulf foes, enhance electric attacks with water, or extinguish flames to change the course of the fight.
Destructible Environments: With a physics-driven destruction engine, every encounter in Wartorn offers a new experience, adding depth and unpredictability to each skirmish.
Unique Progression System: The roguelite progression mechanism rewards resilience, providing players with heirlooms and upgrades that carry over through multiple playthroughs.
Beautiful Aesthetic: The game’s visuals are striking, featuring detailed depictions of heroes, adversarial creatures, and enchanting landscapes. The painterly art style enhances the overall experience, even amidst the game’s darker themes of conflict and tragedy.
Slow Down Time: A slow-time feature allows players to navigate complicated situations seamlessly, enabling them to pause the action and issue precise commands to adapt their approach.
“Our aspiration for Wartorn is to fuse artistic expression, tactical complexity, and emotional depth into one cohesive experience,” expressed Shovaen Patel, CEO of Stray Kite Studios. “We aim for players to feel that every decision they make carries weight, both in combat and within the larger narrative.”
Wartorn is set to release on Steam and the Epic Games Store in early access this coming spring, and interested players can wishlist the game now. Stray Kite Studios was established in 2018, focusing on delivering innovative experiences in gaming.
Source
venturebeat.com