The new IP from Ascendant Studios,Immortals of Aveum, is a unique blend of spell-slinging and shooting with solid potential to establish itself as a new AAA franchise. The EA-published title is set to release in July 2023, and if it can adopt the greatest aspects of the games that the studio’s developers have previously worked on,Immortals of Aveumcould turn into the surprise hit of the Summer.
2022 Game Awards was the first time gamers were introduced toImmortals of Aveumwith a teaser trailer, the initial entry from Ascendant Studios. The mysterious clip generated some word-of-mouth, but little was known about the game until its official reveal trailer was released in April. Now with some cutscenes and gameplay footage available to the public, anticipation for the game ahead of its July release has gained momentum. Ascendant Studios is untested, but the pedigree of its leadership speaks volumes aboutImmortals of Aveum’s potential to be great.
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The Link Between Immortals of Aveum and Past AAA Games
Ascendant Studios was founded in 2018 with Bret Robbins as CEO, a long-time industry veteran whose credentials include Creative Director for Sledgehammer Games and EA, working on titles such as the originalDead SpaceandCall of Duty: WW2. His role at Ascendant marks his first turn as Game Director, but such a vast and eclectic range of experience in the industry should provide a great toolset to lead a development team to critical success. Several of the aspects of the games which Robbins has worked on still represent the high standard for the medium, and there is hope thatImmortals of Aveumwill adopt those traits.
From the reveal trailer,Immortals of Aveumshowcases a AAA level of polish and a star-studded cast to match, with an intriguing world, characters brimming with quippy one-liners, and frantic high-octane combat. Replacing the traditional shooter’s arsenal of weapons with a tome-full of offensive and defensive spells could prove a refreshing spin on the genre, though its execution will hinge on elements that will be unknown until players get their hands on the game.Immortals of Aveum’s combat looks satisfyingand, above all else, fun, and its story seems engaging with a likable protagonist, but none of that can be gleaned for certain from a two-and-a-half-minute trailer.
The Influences That Can Make Immortals of Aveum Great
A pivotalcomponent toImmortals of Aveum’s successwill be the lessons learned by Robbins and the other developers at Ascendant Studios from their previous gigs. The atmosphere and sound design ofDead Spaceare some of the best-in-class for video games, and if Robbins can translate that design to this new IP, it will be a great boon to the title. Similarly, despite the ups and downs of theCall of Dutyfranchise in terms of story and monetization models, its gunplay is almost always top-notch, and those well-designed mechanics will be crucial forImmortals of Aveum’splayability.
Finally, in order to get the most out of the acclaimed actors hired for roles in the game, its writing will have to be up to the task. Having hired a number of developers from Telltale Games after its Bay Area studio shut down, Ascendant Studio should hopefully have that base covered. In a gaming landscape where established franchises rule the roost, taking a chance on a new AAA IP can be a big risk.
Excitement is high forImmortals of Aveum, and for good reason, but the verdict will remain out until more is known. Fans are hopeful that Ascendant Studio can stick the landing, as its fresh ideas are a welcome change from current trends. EA’s marketing strategy as a publisher shows confidence inImmortals of Aveum, spinning up its advertising campaign for it so close to release, and if that confidence is not unfounded, gamers should be in for a treat.
Immortals of Aveumlaunches July 20 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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