Owlcat Games, the studio behind some of the meatiest RPGs of recent years (Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader), announced on their website that they’ll be expanding their operations into publishing. As a developer specializing in RPGs, they’re naturally drawn towards projects with a strong narrative core and captivating stories.
After some consideration and a round of pitching that included over 50 potential projects, the first two games Owlcat will be publishing are Rue Valley and Shadow of the Road.
Rue Valley
Developed by Emotion Spark Studio, Rue Valley is a narrative RPG in the vein of something like Disco Elysium. The game promises to send us on a journey of self-discovery as our character is trapped in a time loop together with a colorful cast of NPCs, plenty of mysteries and opportunities for role-playing.
Rue Valley already looking quite stylish.
Shadow of the Road
Another Angle Games takes a more gameplay-focused approach with Shadow of the Road. The game is described as a “turn-based RPG set in the blood-tinged dusk of feudal Japan.” It will feature a team of specialized characters under your control, plenty of narrative forks, as well as some prominent mystical and steampunk elements.
Samurai, initiative bars, giant steampunk scorpions. Everything the body needs.
Both these projects seem like a great fit for Owlcat. And in the industry heading towards consolidation, with just a handful of big publishers reigning supreme, it’s nice that a studio with a certain degree of success like Owlcat is still capable of turning around and helping the little guy follow in their footsteps.
Neither of these two games has a release date attached to them at the moment, but we’ll definitely be following their development. Just as we’ll keep our eye on Owlcat’s own internal projects. According to the studio’s recent Reddit AMA, they have several of them at the moment, with the main one utilizing the Unreal Engine 5 and being more cinematic and larger in scope than their previous games.
Are you intrigued by these projects? What do you think about Owlcat Games becoming a publisher? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.
Share this article:
Val Hull
Resident role-playing RPG game expert. Knows where trolls and paladins come from. You must fight for your right to gather your party before venturing forth.
