Gamescom Opening Night Live came with a whole smorgasbord of reveals and trailers for fans who had been waiting for one of the summer’s biggest gaming events. Details for much-awaited titles likeThe Callisto Protocol,Hogwarts Legacyand even an appearance from the almost mythicalDead Island 2were some of the highlights. But for some, thenew games revealed at Gamescomwere the real meat of the event. Among those newly revealed titles,Wyrdsongseems to have created quite the buzz. That hype is owed, in part, to the notable names attached to the game’s development.
Wyrdsong(apparently pronounced “weird-song”) is an occultfantasy open-world RPG. Developed by Something Wicked Games and published by NetEase, it looks like it has some interesting occult themes set against a medieval backdrop that has long been a staple for games of its kind. What does make it different from those titles, however, is that it’s set in an alternate history of dark-ages Portugal.
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The enigmatic trailer forWyrdsongduringGamescomOpening Night Live was brief. It didn’t show off much besides the game’s gloomy and atmospheric medieval setting. There was also what seemed like a Templar knight character, which is then replaced by an eerie horned figure. Since so little was revealed, it’s difficult to know what the game might look and play like when it arrives. Nonetheless, the game itself certainly looks promising. But what really piqued the interest of a lot of onlookers is the clout behind the development team working on it. What’s more, that veteran development team could provide fans with clues aboutWyrdsong,even if gameplay hasn’t been revealed yet.
Wyrdsongwill be the debut title from Something Wicked Games, a studio founded just this year by industry legend Jeff Gardiner. Gardiner is best known for his work leading projects at Bethesda Game Studios, includingFallout 3, 4and76, as well asOblivionandSkyrimfromThe Elder Scrollsseries. He’s also joined byObsidian Entertainment’s Charles Staples. Staples has been a big player in the development of titles such asFallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, andThe Outer Worlds. Also on the team are some figures from projects likeDragon Age: Inquisition.
Something Wicked Games describes itself as an independent AAA studio, led by veterans and visionaries; that’s definitely clear to see when looking at its development roster. The developer is loud and proud about its team drawing from industry juggernauts like Bethesda Game Studios, Obsidian Entertainment, and BioWare. Between them, they’ve worked on some of themost ambitious RPGs of all time, so excitement around the announcement ofWyrdsongis certainly justified. The independent nature of the studio is the reason why the team has the autonomy to explore innovative and novel mechanics that intend to redefine the RPG genre, according to a statement by Gardiner.
The specific directionWyrdsongcould take is unclear. Some think it may be anopen-world Soulslike action-RPG title, due to the general direction of recent games in similar settings and the seemingly unstoppable growth of the genre. On the other hand, the experience of the star-studded team points towards a more traditional RPG experience, akin toTheElder ScrollsorFalloutfranchises. Just as likely is the potential that details like this are still up in the air. Something Wicked Games' website suggests it is still hiring for the development team, indicating just how early in the processWyrdsongstill is.
