Former BioShock and Borderlands Developers Announce Chaotic New Game

Stray Kite Studios Unveils "Wartorn," a Real-Time Strategy Roguelite

Stray Kite Studios, a Dallas-based developer boasting veterans from titles like BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires, has announced its first original game: Wartorn. This real-time strategy roguelite, slated for Steam and Epic Games Store early access release in Spring 2025, promises destructible environments, challenging moral dilemmas, and a striking painterly art style.

Wartorn follows the journey of two elven sisters striving to reunite with their family in a fractured, chaotic fantasy world. Their quest will be fraught with peril, demanding both strategic combat prowess and difficult moral choices.

Embrace the Chaos: Destructible Environments and Dynamic Gameplay

The game's chaotic nature extends beyond its narrative. Wartorn features physics-driven environmental destruction, ensuring no two playthroughs are alike. This unpredictable element, coupled with a flexible magic system allowing players to combine fire, water, and lightning spells in creative ways (think shocking enemies in water or igniting tar-covered foes), contributes to high replayability. The core theme explores finding purpose amidst chaos, as expressed by co-founder and creative director Paul Hellquist: "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."

Tough Choices and Strategic Depth

Beyond combat, players face difficult choices between battles, such as deciding who to save or feed, further shaping the story-driven roguelite experience. Progression involves persistent upgrades between runs, easing subsequent attempts. For maximum accessibility, Wartorn includes a slow-motion feature for precise command input during the intense action. The game's painterly aesthetic enhances the dramatic presentation of its world.

In short, Wartorn blends strategic depth, moral complexity, and unpredictable gameplay within a visually captivating setting. Its early access launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store is anticipated for Spring 2025.