Ex-BioShock, Borderlands Devs Unveil Wild New Game

Summary

• Stray Kite Studios has unveiled Wartorn, a thrilling new game.
• This title merges real-time strategy with roguelite gameplay, featuring destructible environments, challenging moral choices, and a captivating painterly aesthetic.
• Wartorn is set to launch in early access on both Steam and the Epic Games Store in spring 2025.

Wartorn is the eagerly anticipated debut original game from Stray Kite Studios, a talented team of industry veterans known for their work on major titles like BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires. Scheduled for a PC release in spring 2025, Wartorn promises a fresh and engaging experience in the tactical roguelite genre.

Founded in 2018, Stray Kite Studios is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and currently employs around 30 dedicated staff members as of 2025. The studio's portfolio includes the standalone release of Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure and numerous Creative maps for Fortnite.

Wartorn introduces players to a gripping narrative centered on two elven sisters striving to reunite with their family. Their epic journey unfolds in a fantasy world torn apart by chaos, presenting not only formidable battles but also morally complex decisions that players must navigate.

Wartorn Is Chaotic in More Than One Way

Set in a deeply divided, chaotic fantasy realm, Wartorn challenges players in multiple dimensions. One of its standout features is the dynamic environmental destruction, driven by physics rather than scripted events. This ensures that each encounter is unique and unpredictable. The game delves into themes of finding purpose amidst chaos, with Stray Kite Studios' co-founder and creative director, Paul Hellquist, stating, "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 Will Require Players To Make Tough Decisions

Wartorn demands that players make tough choices beyond the battlefield, such as deciding which character to feed or who to rescue from imminent peril. These decisions enhance the game's story-driven roguelite experience, ensuring every playthrough is distinct. Combat also offers a high degree of freedom with a versatile magic system, allowing players to combine elemental forces like fire, water, and lightning. These spells interact uniquely with each other and the environment, adding strategic depth to battles.

True to the roguelite genre, Wartorn includes a progression system where upgrades persist across runs, progressively easing the challenge of completing the game. The visual style of Wartorn is designed to evoke a painterly aesthetic, enhancing the dramatic feel of its setting. To ensure accessible gameplay, the game allows players to slow down the action, providing the opportunity to issue precise commands amidst the chaos.

Wartorn is poised to launch in early access in spring 2025 and will be available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.