Former BioShock and Borderlands Developers Announce Chaotic New Game

Summary

• Stray Kite Studios has announced their new game, Wartorn.
• Wartorn is a real-time strategy roguelite featuring destructible environments, challenging moral choices, and a distinctive painterly aesthetic.
• The game is slated to launch in early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store (EGS) in spring 2025.

Wartorn is the eagerly anticipated debut original title from Stray Kite Studios, a Dallas-based developer established in 2018. Comprising around 30 employees, including veterans from acclaimed franchises such as BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires, the studio has previously worked on projects like the standalone version of Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure and various creative maps for Fortnite.

The newly unveiled Wartorn blends real-time strategy with roguelite mechanics, following the gripping tale of two elven sisters striving to reunite with their family. Their journey promises a mix of intense combat and morally complex decisions, set against a backdrop of a fantastically chaotic world.

Wartorn Is Chaotic in More Than One Way

The setting of Wartorn is a deeply divided, chaotic fantasy realm that challenges the protagonists in multifaceted ways. The game introduces physics-driven environmental destruction, ensuring each encounter feels unique and unpredictable. At its core, Wartorn delves into themes of finding purpose amidst chaos. "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," said Paul Hellquist, co-founder and creative director at Stray Kite Studios.

Wartorn Will Require Players To Make Tough Decisions

Players of Wartorn will face tough choices between battles, such as deciding which character to feed or whom to save from imminent peril. These decisions enhance the game's narrative-driven roguelite experience, ensuring varied playthroughs. Combat will offer similar freedom through a dynamic magic system, allowing players to combine elemental forces like fire, water, and lightning, which can interact in diverse and contextually effective ways.

As a roguelite, Wartorn includes a progression system where upgrades carry over between runs, progressively easing the challenge. The game's visual style adopts a painterly aesthetic, adding a dramatic flair to its setting. To enhance accessibility, Wartorn allows players to slow down the action for precise command inputs amidst the chaos.

Wartorn is set to launch in early access on both Steam and the Epic Games Store in spring 2025, promising an engaging blend of strategy, narrative depth, and visual beauty.