Summary
- Stray Kite Studios has announced Wartorn.
- The newly revealed game is a real-time strategy roguelite with destructible environments, tough moral choices, and a painterly aesthetic.
- Wartorn is planned to launch in early access on Steam and EGS in spring 2025.
Wartorn marks the latest venture from Stray Kite Studios, a team of seasoned industry professionals with a history of working on acclaimed titles. This tactical roguelite, set to debut on PC in spring 2025, represents the studio's inaugural original project.
Founded in 2018 and based in Dallas, Texas, Stray Kite Studios employs around 30 people as of 2025. The team boasts former developers from notable franchises such as BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires. Prior to Wartorn, the studio delivered the standalone game Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure and crafted a variety of Creative maps for Fortnite.
With the introduction of Wartorn, Stray Kite Studios ventures into original game development. This game melds real-time strategy with roguelite mechanics, telling the tale of two elven sisters striving to reunite with their family amidst a treacherous journey filled with challenging combat and morally complex decisions.
Wartorn Is Chaotic in More Than One Way
The fantasy world of Wartorn is characterized by a realm engulfed in chaos, challenging the protagonists on multiple fronts. The game introduces an unscripted, physics-driven environmental destruction system, ensuring that each encounter unfolds uniquely. The thematic focus of Wartorn revolves around discovering purpose in 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," stated Paul Hellquist, co-founder and creative director of Stray Kite Studios.
Wartorn Will Require Players To Make Tough Decisions
Players of Wartorn will face tough choices between battles, such as deciding who to feed or rescue from imminent peril. These decisions enrich the game's narrative-driven roguelite experience, ensuring each playthrough is distinct. Combat also offers flexibility, with a magic system allowing players to creatively combine elements like fire, water, and lightning. These spells interact dynamically and have situational uses, such as electrifying foes in water or igniting tar-covered enemies.
"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," reiterated Paul Hellquist.
As expected in a roguelite, Wartorn features a progression system where upgrades persist across playthroughs, easing subsequent attempts to complete the journey. The game's visuals adopt a painterly aesthetic, enhancing the drama of its setting. To ensure accessible gameplay, Wartorn allows players to slow down the action and issue precise commands amidst the chaos. Scheduled for an early access launch in spring 2025, Wartorn will be available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.
