AUGUST 22, 2024 – Yellow Brick Games has unveiled a new gameplay trailer below for their debut title Eternal Strands during today’s Xbox Showcase at Gamescom.
Narrated by Chief Creative Officer and industry veteran, Mike Laidlaw, the trailer presents a comprehensive overview of what players can come to expect in this third-person action-adventure fantasy game, including a closer look at the game’s signature elemental mechanics, expedition loop, and characters.
The studio took this opportunity to confirm that after nearly five years of development, Eternal Strands is set to come out ‘Early 2025’.
Action-Packed Gameplay with a Fully Interactive World
This latest trailer shows that players’ creativity and reactivity will be put to the test as they venture into the Enclave. With the ability to climb everything and interact with almost every facet of the world through temperature and forces, players will need to find innovative ways to maneuver through various environments that have been unpredictably affected by extreme weather events – from a flash freeze hitting the lush forest of Glintwood Hollow, to a heat wave spreading across the imposing architectural ruins of Upper Dynevron. The real challenge of Eternal Strands, however, lies in defeating the nine towering bosses that freely roam the Enclave.
Once awakened, the newly revealed Epic, the Ark of the Stricken Earth, is a formidable adversary with its kinetic powers. Harvesting strands from these giant enemies will allow players to harness new magical abilities as they advance in their journey. Epics wander freely and change day to day between the various maps, all connected by a central hub: the basecamp. There, players can craft and reforge their gear, weave new powers into their Mantle, or learn more about the realm. Choosing and customizing gear wisely is crucial, but mastering the synergies between steel, frost, flame, and kinetic magic is key to success in battles.
“We are breaking a lot of traditional conventions and giving the tools to the player to overcome the challenges in front of them however they see fit,” says Jeff Skalski, Executive Producer and COO at Yellow Brick Games. “Take our Ice Wall power for example. Sure, you can cast it to pin enemies in place, but you can also use it to create an ice shield against a drake’s breath or carve an ice path safely through a burning forest. Perhaps one of my favorite uses is while climbing an epic and casting ice on its hands so it can’t grab Brynn thus buying her time for a critical blow. Well, that is until it manages to crush the ice in its hand by using its sheer strength or melt it through other means.”
The Weaverband
The trailer also revealed the weaverband—Brynn’s unique skilled basecamp characters. Behind these distinct characters, you will hear the voices of famous actors known for their roles in various games such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Baldur’s Gate 3, Stellar Blade, and TV series such as Wednesday and Sex Education.
- Brynn, the Point – Mei Mac
- Oria, the Mentor – Pandora Colin
- Sola, the Smith – Luyanada Unati Lewis-Nyawo
- Sevastyan, the Smith’s Apprentice – Kris W. Laudrum
- Laen, the Lorekeeper – Robyn Holdaway
- Casmyn, the Quartermaster – Rebeccca Hanssen
- And additional characters and talent to be announced at a later date.
These fully voice-acted companions, with whom players will be able to forge bonds, will help Brynn gear up for her expeditions and guide her along her journey to uncovering the mysteries of the Enclave, a magical and unpredictable land once a thriving center of magic, now left in ruins. Who knows what might be hiding in these undiscovered lands…
“We started development on Eternal Strands with a gameplay-first philosophy,” says Mike Laidlaw, Chief Creative Officer at Yellow Brick Games. “The fantastic world of the Enclave was built with that in mind and gives players a sandbox full of flammable, breakable, launchable, and sometimes-explosive ingredients alongside massive creatures to test our player’s creativity. From that starting point, we put together a fun, adventure-filled story to tie those experiences together.”
Eternal Strands seamlessly integrates epic battles, a richly woven story, and innovative gameplay, offering a unique experience for those who crave both thrilling combat and engaging storytelling. Take up the mantle in Eternal Strands.
Eternal Strands is set to launch on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in 2025.
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