Forspoken’s release and marketing strategies have, it’s fair to say, had a bit of a bumpy start. The 2020 release of Project Athia, a high-fantasy action game by Luminous Productions and Square Enix, has seen several difficulties since then. Nevertheless, the game should be released on PC and PS5 in January, assuming that most of them are now supporting it.
Although Forspoken’s most recent launch day has somewhat obscured it, during the past few months, the game has nonetheless generated significant media attention. Square Enix has continued to release material, blog pieces, and interviews with Luminous Productions that are all related to the project, maybe to ensure that it doesn’t get forgotten among games like God of War Ragnarok. The image of its open universe, which seems to be a lonely place for several reasons, is beginning to take shape as a result of this.
Square Enix and Luminous Productions have always been open to discussing the details of their respective concepts for Forspoken in-depth. Players’ perceptions of the appearance and atmosphere of the world of Athia are pretty accurate, thanks to this philosophy.
Forspoken’s gameplay and open environment were fully covered in one film that was made for Gamescom. It was made clear during the 10-minute clip that Frey will only come across NPCs in the last city of Athia. The town of Coral is thought to be the only place where those fleeing the realm can find safety after an enigmatic corruption decimated it. Beyond its boundaries are the “wilds,” a ruined region of ruins, monsters, and corruption zones.
Forspoken’s open world has several defining elements of the genre, which should be noted. The ability of Frey to summon Cuff to reveal Athia’s hidden truths was demonstrated during the most recent gameplay trailer. These can be things like notes, treasure chests, or exciting places. But so far, these seem to be significantly toned down in keeping with its themes of solitude.
