EA Games may get a ton of flack (deservedly) for their big budget games, but beneath the corporate side of AAA game development there is a publisher that has taken some risky gambles on indie games that would otherwise have never seen the light of day. Without EA’s backing, it’s safe to say that games like Unravel and Fe would probably have remained in some state of limbo before eventually being published.
EA’s got a new indie on the horizon, by the name of Sea of Solitude. First revealed at E3 2018, Sea of Solitude focuses on the pain of isolation. “Sea of Solitude centers on the essence of loneliness and tugs on the heartstrings of its players by mirroring their own reality. It’s by far the most artistic and personal project I’ve ever created, written during a very emotional time in my life,” said Cornelia Geppert, CEO of Jo-Mei Games.
Designing characters based on emotions was a deeply personal achievement for our team and we’re so excited for players to soon experience Kay’s powerful story of self-discovery and healing.
Sea of Solitude is now sailing towards a release date of July 5, on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. It looks absolutely fascinating, blending its striking visuals with an emotional tapestry across a voyage of discovery as the weather systems around players reflect the emotional state of protagonist Kay. Here’s the flavour text for the content of the game:
Designed with a striking visual style, Sea of Solitude is an intimate adventure across a beautiful and evolving world where nothing is quite as it seems. Kay’s journey unfolds around dynamic environments as atmospheric in-game weather help visualize the characters’ emotions. Players unlock new areas to explore by overcoming emotional challenges and progressively revealing light and color into the dark and stormy world.
Through unique encounters with a variety of beautiful and terrifying monsters, Kay will discover why her loneliness has turned her into a monster and what it will take to change back to a human.
I like that. We all handle isolation and emotion in our own way, but having games like this that explore the concept further? That’s something that the gaming industry needs more of these days, instead of massive sandbox adventures with a checklist of monetisation options attached to them.
Last Updated: May 28, 2019
