Former BioShock and Borderlands Developers Announce Chaotic New Game

Stray Kite Studios Unveils "Wartorn," a Real-Time Strategy Roguelite

Stray Kite Studios, a Dallas-based developer boasting veterans from renowned studios like BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires, has announced its first original title: Wartorn. This real-time strategy roguelite, slated for a Spring 2025 Early Access launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store, promises a unique blend of tactical combat, challenging moral dilemmas, and a striking painterly art style.

Wartorn tells the tale of two elven sisters striving to reunite with their family in a fractured fantasy world rife with conflict. Their journey will be fraught with peril, demanding strategic combat prowess and difficult moral choices that impact the narrative.

Dynamic Destruction and Strategic Depth

Wartorn's chaotic world extends beyond its narrative. The game features a physics-driven environmental destruction system, ensuring no two playthroughs are alike. This dynamic element, coupled with a flexible magic system allowing players to creatively combine elemental forces (fire, water, lightning, etc.), provides unparalleled strategic depth. Spells interact uniquely with each other and the environment, adding layers of tactical complexity. For example, shocking enemies submerged in water or igniting tar-covered foes.

The game's core theme revolves around finding purpose amidst chaos. Co-founder and Creative Director Paul Hellquist states, "We’ve poured our hearts into creating a game that not only entertains but also makes players think deeply about sacrifice, survival, and the bonds that unite us."

Moral Choices and Progressive Gameplay

Beyond combat, Wartorn presents players with difficult choices between battles, such as deciding who to save or feed, further enhancing replayability and the story-driven roguelite experience. Progress is persistent, with upgrades carrying over between runs, making each attempt progressively easier.

To ensure accessibility amidst the chaos, Wartorn includes a feature to slow down gameplay, allowing for precise command input. The game's painterly aesthetic enhances the dramatic atmosphere of its setting.

Wartorn is poised to launch in Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store in Spring 2025.

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