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 release on Steam and the Epic Games Store, promises a unique blend of tactical combat, challenging moral dilemmas, and a striking painterly art style.

Wartorn plunges players into a fractured fantasy world consumed by chaos. Players control two elven sisters on a perilous quest to reunite with their family. Their journey will be fraught with intense battles and morally ambiguous choices, shaping their narrative and gameplay experience.

Dynamic Destruction and Strategic Depth

A key element of Wartorn's chaotic nature is its physics-driven environmental destruction. Unscripted destruction ensures each encounter unfolds differently, adding significant replayability. The game's magic system further enhances this dynamism, allowing players to creatively combine elemental forces (fire, water, lightning) for diverse tactical options. Imagine shocking enemies submerged in water or igniting tar-covered foes – the possibilities are vast.

Co-founder and Creative Director Paul Hellquist emphasizes the game's thematic depth: "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."

Difficult Choices and Meaningful Progression

Beyond combat, players face difficult choices between battles, such as deciding who to save or feed, directly impacting the narrative and ensuring each playthrough feels unique. The roguelite progression system allows upgrades to carry over between runs, making subsequent attempts progressively easier while maintaining the challenge.

The game's painterly aesthetic enhances the dramatic setting, while an adjustable slow-motion feature provides precise control amidst the chaos, ensuring accessibility for all players. Wartorn is poised to deliver a captivating and deeply engaging experience when it launches in Early Access next spring.

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