The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was one of the top video games releases of 2015, no doubt. A deep role-playing game set in a dark fantasy world, it let players engage in third-person combat using swords and magic, and also make difficult choices throughout its epic story.
And after the disappointment that Cyberpunk 2077 was at launch in 2020, it’s clear most fans of Polish studio CD Projekt Red (the people behind the game) still consider The Witcher 3 the company’s best game.
So it might be good news to some that several former Witcher 3 developers are working on a new game, having setup a new studio named Dark Passenger. The studio is based in Warsaw, Poland, and their upcoming project has no name yet. The game, though, will be set in feudal Japan, as the studio’s website explains.
“The troubled time has come in the Land of the Cherry Blossom when nameless conquerors overthrow the ruling shogun and took over his throne. Everyone who dared to oppose him, not only failed but also, against their will, joined his ranks”, says Dark Passenger on its website.
“In order to learn the origin and motives of the aggressor, the secret houses of the assassins are sending their warriors to find the artifacts of his belonging that conceal extraordinary power”, adds the game’s description.
The thing is, unlike The Witcher 3 which was a single player game, Dark Passenger’s upcoming project will be a multiplayer online-only title. The game will offer both competitive player vs player (PvP) and cooperative player vs environment (PvE) modes. It’s being built using Epic’s Unreal engine according to Dark Passenger’s website.
No release date is given, although it’s likely that this unnamed video game project is just starting development, so it may be a long while before the game is released.
In the game, players will be able to play as shinobi warriors, wielding a variety of weapons such as katanas and shurikens, taking on enemies such as assassins while traversing a variety of locations such as pagodas, shrines and temples in feudal Japan. Players will also be able to get around the game’s environments in several ways such as “running on arrows that were fired by other players” and “using [a] yari spear like a pole to jump over obstacles” as Dark Passenger explains on its website.
Players will be able to create their own unique character, modifying weapons and equipment as they choose. Meanwhile, you’ll also be able to create your own Dojo and invite your friends in order to train, which sounds like it could be an interesting break from the oriental-themed action…
So despite its multiplayer nature and it being a long way away from release, this is one upcoming video game which fans of CD Projekt games, those who enjoy games set in feudal Japan and gamers in general will want to keep an eye on, that’s for sure.