Former Fortnite and Blizzard developers have joined forces to create a groundbreaking studio, Lightforge Games. Their latest project, codenamed Project ORCS, aims to revolutionize the multiplayer RPG genre by combining the collaborative world-building and storytelling elements of original tabletop Dungeons & Dragons with the polished video game presentation of modern successors like Baldur’s Gate 3.
Project ORCS, an acronym for “Online Roleplaying with Collaborative Storytelling,” goes beyond existing tools like Roll20 and Tabletop Simulator, which provide digital simulations of pen-and-paper roleplaying experiences. This game offers a unique mix of an editor mode and traditional co-op RPG, allowing players to serve as dungeon masters or embark on premade adventures created by the game’s developers or other players.
The editor mode enables players to craft characters, environments, and encounters before playing, or allows them to edit in real-time, improvising and reacting to the actions of up to five players. Additionally, players can meticulously customize their characters in a comprehensive character creator, choosing from various classes and species.
Similar to the D&D system, players can level up their characters through multiple quests. The game also features a home base that players can upgrade and expand, offering a sense of progression and personalization. Moreover, Lightforge Games plans to introduce guilds, allowing players to form larger groups and share a world they have collectively built.
The reveal trailer showcases the game’s sleek and intuitive interface, which is a testament to Lightforge’s CEO, Matt Schembari’s extensive experience as a lead engineer at Blizzard and UI director at Epic Games, where he worked on projects like Fortnite’s immensely popular battle royale mode. The social interactions between players are seamlessly integrated into the gameplay, enhancing the collaborative aspect of the experience.
Schembari stated, “We’ve set out to make a roleplaying experience that has never been attempted before in the games industry. We’re calling it a Collaborative Storytelling RPG or CSRPG. Project ORCS is a collaborative game that will give new and old RPG fans a way to create their own stories on an interactive canvas.”
The ambitious nature of Project ORCS has generated anticipation within the gaming community. It promises to redefine the genre and provide players with an unprecedented level of creative freedom and storytelling capabilities.
While its success remains to be seen, the wait for Project ORCS won’t be long. The game is set to launch into early access sometime in 2024, allowing players to immerse themselves in a new era of RPGs that marries the rich tradition of tabletop gaming with the technological advancements of the digital landscape.
Project ORCS represents a significant leap forward in the world of RPGs, introducing an innovative approach to collaborative storytelling. With a team of experienced developers behind it and a clear vision for the future of the genre, Lightforge Games is poised to leave a lasting impact on the gaming industry. Players eagerly await the release of Project ORCS, where they will embark on unique adventures and shape their own stories in an immersive and interactive world.
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