New Chaotic Game Unveiled by BioShock and Borderlands Veterans

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 release on Steam and the Epic Games Store, promises a unique blend of tactical combat, challenging moral choices, and dynamic, physics-driven environmental destruction.

Wartorn follows the journey of two elven sisters striving to reunite with their family in a fractured, chaotic fantasy world. Their quest will be fraught with peril, demanding strategic combat prowess and difficult moral decisions that shape the narrative and gameplay experience.

Chaos and Choice Define the Wartorn Experience

The game's core gameplay loop revolves around unpredictable encounters fueled by destructible environments and player choices. Unscripted environmental destruction, governed by realistic physics, ensures each playthrough is unique. Players will face tough decisions between battles, such as choosing who to save or feed, further impacting the narrative and adding replayability.

Combat offers strategic depth through a dynamic magic system. Players can creatively combine elemental forces (fire, water, lightning) for diverse effects, utilizing the environment to their advantage (e.g., shocking enemies in water, igniting tar-covered foes). The roguelite progression system allows players to carry upgrades between runs, gradually making subsequent attempts easier.

A Painterly Aesthetic and Accessible Gameplay

Wartorn's painterly art style enhances the dramatic fantasy setting, while accessibility features, such as the ability to slow down gameplay and issue precise commands, ensure a smooth experience for all players. Co-founder and Creative Director Paul Hellquist emphasizes the game's deeper themes: "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."

Wartorn is poised to deliver a compelling and replayable experience, blending strategic combat, meaningful choices, and a visually stunning world. Its Early Access launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store is anticipated for Spring 2025.