From Wreckfest 2 to Titan Quest II and Gothic to Another Darksiders
– 3 min read
THQ Nordic unveiled Wreckfest 2 and The Eternal Life of Goldman at its in-house showcase. The publisher showed the Gothic 1 remake and Titan Quest II for the first time. A new game from Tarsier and another Darksiders were teased. HandyGames kicked off the event.
Shortly before the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024, subsidiary HandyGames announced that Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure will also be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game is currently in Early Access on PC. The company also announced a new title, Tattoo Tycoon. "Become a tattoo artist and manage your own tattoo parlor," they said. The game is being developed by CrazyBunch from Hamburg (Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice, among others). Also in the running were Lethal Honor: Essence, an action-adventure hack-and-slash roguelike from ViralStudios in Spain, the mobile version of the hunting simulation Way of the Hunter, and the action-adventure A Rat's Quest from The Dreamerians in Mexico.
Altogether, the HandyGames pre-show lasted just under nine minutes before moving on to the showcase from THQ Nordic. First up was the new brand The Eternal Life of Goldman. In this platform adventure, an elderly protagonist (with a walking stick) explores an archipelago, drawn entirely by hand in traditional frame-by-frame animation style. The scenario is inspired by ancient fables, and the goal is nothing less than to defeat a mysterious deity. The game is being developed by Weappy Studio, known for This Is the Police, Rebel Cops and This Is the President.
Next up was Space for Sale, a space adventure that has just entered Early Access and allows players to explore new worlds as a space estate agent, either solo or in co-op. This was followed by Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. The remake, developed by Vienna-based Purple Lamp, will be released on 24 September 2024 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and PC. As well as improved graphics, the game will feature new secrets and collectibles, as well as new core abilities for Mickey (Dash, Ground Pound and Sprint). It is said that all assets in the game have been "rebuilt from the ground up". In addition, SpellForce: Conquest of Eo will also receive another DLC.
The showcase, which was actually a largely unmoderated and uninterrupted trailer show (with short teaser videos that repeatedly emphasised the Q from THQ), continued with the announcement of Wreckfest 2, which is once again being developed by Bugbear Entertainment in Finland. The Destruction Derby-style racing game will feature more destruction, better physics, fully customisable cars, revamped game modes and a split-screen mode, and the game's soundscape will be more vibrant. Also promised are multiple race modes, a career, modding support, challenges and regular content updates.
Then it was time for the gameplay premiere of Titan Quest II, which is being developed by Grimlore Games in Munich. The action RPG is based on its predecessor and the first Diablo, but retains the familiar mythological setting with a wide range of locations. The developers emphasise that the encounters are hand crafted and that the boss fights are unique. Character progression is achieved through masteries and their combination. No release date was given. A gameplay trailer of the Gothic 1 remake (Unreal Engine 5) followed. The video takes a look at the story, introduces combat and magic, and shows the game world. THQ Nordic emphasises that the game will be a faithful recreation of the original, retaining its strengths such as the vibrant game world, while adding new locations. The combat system will be modernised, but will be tactical and slow. They will also try to keep the UI to a minimum. As with Titan Quest II, no release date has been announced, although Embracer's annual report mentions a release of both titles by the end of March 2025. But that could change.
At the end of the 30-minute showcase, the publisher made three more announcements, starting with the release of the Way of the Hunter - Lintukoto Reserve DLC. A new game from Tarsier Studios (Little Nightmares I & II) was then teased, but will not be revealed until the gamescom Opening Night Live on 20 August 2024. It's said to be "a whole new vision, unlike anything you've seen before". Last but not least, another Darksiders game was announced to be developed by Gunfire Games (Darksiders III, Remnant II). However, the Austrian publisher would not reveal any further information. A publisher sale is being held on all platforms to coincide with the showcase.
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