Octopath Devs Acquire Unleash Kaiju, Shadows, and Espionage – Oh My!
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Acquire, the studio behind Octopath Traveler, is working on three wildly different original games: a kaiju battler, a dark fantasy hunt, and a shadowy espionage thriller - all to be revealed at Tokyo Game Show! Blimey, this sounds like a right proper laugh, doesn't it?
Right, so the chaps over at Acquire, the studio partially responsible for the rather lovely *Octopath Traveler* (and the brilliantly bonkers *Way of the Samurai* series, let's not forget!), are cooking up something new. Actually, scrap that, they're cooking up *three* somethings new. And they sound absolutely mental – in the best possible way, of course.
According to Eurogamer, who spotted the story, Acquire (owned by FromSoftware parent company Kadokawa) is teaming up with Red Dunes Games (who, until now, have mostly dabbled in the indie scene) to unleash this trio of original titles upon us. And, fair warning, the descriptions alone are enough to make you spit out your tea (or your energy drink, whatever floats your boat).
First up, we've got *Project Tremor*. Now, I reckon if a game description includes the phrase "city-shaking kaiju battles," you've pretty much got my attention. Giant monsters stomping around? Sign me up! (Though I do hope they've got some creative solutions for those pesky physics glitches that often plague kaiju games... nobody wants to see Godzilla clipped through a building, eh?)
Then there's *Project Umbra*. This one's being billed as a "dark fantasy hunt." So, think grim environments, mysterious creatures, and probably a whole load of brooding protagonists. Sound familiar? (Yes, I'm looking at you, *Monster Hunter* and your suspiciously similar cousins.) Still, if Acquire can bring their own unique spin to the formula, I'm cautiously optimistic. They've got form for taking a genre and twisting it into something special.
And finally, we have *Project Shadowcar*, described as a "shadowy espionage thriller." This one's a bit more mysterious. Shadowy espionage? Cars? Does this mean car chases in the dark, or spies driving shadows? My brain is already working overtime trying to figure out how this will all come together. But I'm intrigued.
All three projects are set to be showcased at this year's Tokyo Game Show in September, so expect some gameplay footage and juicy details to drop then. They're slated for release on PC and major consoles. No word on specific release dates yet, so keep your eyes peeled.
Acquire CEO Takuma Endo reckons this partnership with Red Dunes Games is a "bold new global challenge." Red Dunes CEO Sultan Darmaki added that the collaboration reflects a belief that "the future of gaming lies in global collaboration, where stories cross borders, and innovation knows no region."
Frankly, I couldn't agree more. Gaming is a global phenomenon, and it's always exciting to see studios from different backgrounds coming together to create something new. Whether or not that includes tokenized in-game assets remains to be seen, but for now, it's exciting to see established studios take risks with new ideas.
So, there you have it. Kaiju, dark fantasy hunts, and shadowy espionage thrillers, all courtesy of the folks who brought us *Octopath Traveler*. Colour me intrigued. I can't wait to see what they cook up. And, knowing Acquire, I reckon it'll be something rather special. Or, at the very least, gloriously bonkers.
Tags: Acquire, Tokyo Game Show, Kaiju, Espionage, Dark Fantasy
Original article: Eurogamer