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 launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store, promises a unique blend of tactical combat, destructible environments, and challenging moral dilemmas.

Wartorn's narrative centers on two elven sisters striving for family reunification amidst a deeply fractured and chaotic fantasy world. Their journey will be fraught with peril, demanding both strategic prowess in combat and difficult moral choices that impact the unfolding story.

Dynamic Destruction and Strategic Depth

Wartorn distinguishes itself through its physics-driven environmental destruction. Unlike pre-scripted events, the impact of the environment is dynamically reactive, ensuring each playthrough offers a fresh and unpredictable experience. This unpredictability extends to the game's magic system, allowing players to creatively combine elemental forces (fire, water, lightning) for diverse tactical advantages, such as electrocuting waterlogged foes or incinerating tar-covered enemies.

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."

Moral Choices and Progressive Gameplay

Beyond combat, players face difficult choices between battles – deciding who to save, who to feed, and ultimately shaping the narrative arc. These decisions, coupled with the roguelite progression system (where upgrades carry over between runs), guarantee a unique experience with each attempt. To further enhance accessibility, Wartorn includes a feature allowing players to slow down the action and issue precise commands, managing the chaos effectively.

The game's painterly aesthetic enhances the dramatic fantasy setting, creating a visually captivating world. Wartorn's Early Access release on Steam and the Epic Games Store is anticipated for Spring 2025.

(Note: The image URLs provided in the original input were all identical. I have duplicated them here to maintain the original image count and placement. In a real-world scenario, these would be distinct images.)