Song in the Smoke is the next game from developer 17-Bit, the studio behind titles like Galak-Z and Skulls of the Shogun. It is a big change for the independent developer, tasking players to survive in a fantastic and wild forest in virtual reality. It is also highly stylized, with character art by the illustrator Katsuya Terada, known for his work in Blood: the last vampire and the first games in the The Legend of Zelda series.
As seen in the first game trailer, Song in the Smoke challenges players with the standard tasks of the survival game: crafting, hunting, cooking and repelling threats. But the VR game tends towards the mystical, with supernatural beasts, mysterious artifacts, a three-headed raven and what appears to be a very angry spiritual lion.
“Song in the Smoke it’s unlike anything we’ve done before and it’s our most ambitious title, ”wrote 17-Bit founder and creative leader, Jake Kazdal, on the Oculus blog. “The experience is so completely immersive and immersive that the forest is alive around it in the extra dimension provided by VR. We are excited to offer an intense adventure that could not be captured otherwise. “
17 bits will launch Song in the Smoke on Oculus Quest and Rift, as well as on PlayStation VR in 2021.