After yesterday’s big announcement and what was shared during Microsoft’s Inside Xbox stream, Curve Digital has opened up about The Ascent. An Xbox console exclusive, it’s also in development for PC, and is expected to release this year.
In its press release, the game is described as being a “dystopian cyberpunk epic,” and is the first title from a new Swedish studio called Neon Giant. The team who worked on the title consists of only 11 people, but it was formed by folks who have had experience working on triple-A releases.
The Ascent will be playable in single player or co-op, in order to cater to different play styles and preferences. Those who take up its quests will step into an action-oriented science fiction RPG that is powered by the Unreal Engine 4.
“We wanted to create a sci-fi RPG where players can play in the way they like, building up their character with cyberwear, augmentations and looting in a story-driven environment,” says Tor Frick, Art Director and co-founder of Neon Giant.
Arcade Berg, fellow co-founder and the studio’s Game Director adds – “For us, creating The Ascent has been about us all taking what we’ve learned from working on Triple-A titles and bringing it to a highly focused project like this, redefining what gamers might have come to expect from a title developed by a small and flexible team.”
The game’s features include:
- A free-roam play style in a cyberpunk inspired dystopian world
- Classic RPG mechanics to enable players to build up their character including cyberwear, augmentations and looting
- An unprecedented sense of verticality within its world, with different levels and platforms discernible within play
- Double-aim mechanic enables players to utilize the full screen and choose between multiple targets anywhere in the environment
- A narrative-led adventure playable in single and up to four-player co-op modes
“It was obvious from the moment we met that Tor, Arcade and the whole Neon Giant team that they were doing something very special,” says Simon Byron, Publishing Director, Curve Digital. “They know how to make games where combat feels right, and even in its very early stages, The Ascent has been enormously playable. Everyone at the studio is determined to show how a tightly-focused, passionate team can create something which will stand shoulder to shoulder with games whose credits run into the hundreds, and The Ascent truly is an audacious debut.”
“The fact that Microsoft has seen enough behind the scenes in the early stages of development to very publicly give The Ascent such overwhelming backing should give you an idea of its promise. I’m relieved we are finally able to start showing it publicly.”
The Ascent is apparently going to release on the Xbox family of consoles, which we believe means it will be an Xbox One and Xbox Series X (enhanced) title. Plus Windows PC, as previously mentioned.