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 unique painterly aesthetic.
- The game is set to launch in early access on both Steam and the Epic Games Store in spring 2025.
Wartorn is the latest project from Stray Kite Studios, a team of seasoned industry professionals known for their work on major titles such as BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires. This tactical roguelite, scheduled for a PC release in spring 2025, will be the studio's inaugural original game.
Established in 2018 and based in Dallas, Texas, Stray Kite Studios employs around 30 people as of 2025. The studio has previously worked on the standalone release of Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure and created numerous Creative maps for Fortnite.
With Wartorn, Stray Kite Studios introduces their first original title, blending real-time strategy with roguelite mechanics. The game follows the journey of two elven sisters on a quest to reunite with their family, a path filled with challenging battles and morally complex decisions.
Wartorn Is Chaotic in More Than One Way
Set in a fantasy world gripped by chaos, Wartorn presents a setting that deeply challenges its protagonists. Adding to the chaos, the game incorporates a physics-driven environmental destruction system, ensuring that no two encounters are ever the same. Thematically, Wartorn explores the search for 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
Between battles, players will face difficult choices, such as deciding which character to feed or whom to save from certain death. These decisions enhance the story-driven roguelite experience, ensuring unique playthroughs. Combat will also offer flexibility with a dynamic magic system that allows players to combine elemental forces like fire, water, and lightning for various strategic effects, such as electrifying enemies in water or igniting tar-covered foes.
As with many roguelites, Wartorn includes a progression system where upgrades carry over between runs, easing subsequent attempts at completing the journey. The game's visuals are crafted to evoke a painterly aesthetic, enhancing the drama of its setting. To ensure accessible gameplay, Wartorn allows players to slow down the on-screen action and issue precise commands amidst the chaos.
Wartorn is slated for an early access launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store in spring 2025, promising a rich and engaging experience for strategy and roguelite enthusiasts alike.
