Within the Xbox Partner Preview, the Ukrainian studio Frogwares announced a partnership with Microsoft and introduced The Sinking City 2. The development team from Frogwares hopes that The Sinking City 2 will return the studio's work in a new direction when the game is released on PC and consoles in 2025.
"The original Sinking City remains one of our most successful games so far, most likely due to stronger inclinations towards the horror genre and setting," said Frogwares publishing director Sergey Oganesyan. "In the past, we have created a number of detective adventures, and now we intend to mix things to continue doing what people like us do, which is to create many stories, and at the same time have the opportunity to grow. It's exciting, but at the same time risky. We are a completely independent studio, which has become known for detective games over the past 24 years. But we need to start taking bolder steps. The industry around us is changing, and we want to ensure the future of the studio."
Beginners won't need to play the first The Sinking City to enjoy the sequel, which will feature a completely new, separate story. Sinking City 2 also places a greater emphasis on combat and exploration than its predecessor. The action takes place in the 1920s in the United States, showcasing Lovecraftian horrors in a flood-filled city.
Frogwares hopes to bring horror to the forefront in The Sinking City 2, although the game will still feature some gameplay elements known to the studio. The most notable is the detective gameplay, which Frogwares fans can expect in The Sinking City 2. Although the game includes some optional investigation gameplay, it is not the main focus of progression. Investigations can reveal secrets that the player will miss if they skip this part.
The Sinking City 2 is being developed on Unreal Engine 5; the studio hopes that the leap in technology with the new engine will help focus the game on combat and survival in a terrifying world. To assist with settings, Frogwares executive producer Denis Chebotarov said that features will be available.
Frogwares CEO Waël Amr shared his thoughts on how the war with Russia has affected the Ukrainian team: "At this stage, we have learned and adapted to our reality, but the ongoing war adds a sinister layer of uncertainty." He said that Frogwares' previous game, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, was developed and released during the war.
Amr credits the studio's community and Kickstarter supporters for making the release possible: "This financial safety net turned out to be invaluable for us: from power outages, as our electrical infrastructure was targeted for several months, to the need to relocate team members in very short notice." Frogwares will turn to Kickstarter again to finance the completion of The Sinking City 2.
Sources: IGN, Windows Central
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