Despelote: Everything We Know

Publisher Panic Inc. and developers Julian Cordero and Sebastian Valbuena have announced despelote, a first-person “slice-of-life adventure about childhood and the magical grip soccer held over the people of Quito, Ecuador in 2001.” Intrigued? Us too.

“We’ve been pretty quiet since launching Untitled Goose Game and announcing Nour: Play With Your Food, but we’ve been actively taking pitches these past few years,” said Panic head of publishing Nick Suttner in a press release. “We were really taken with despelote when it came our way—a deeply transportive love letter to a particular time and place, told in such a wry, charming way that it manages to feel universal at the same time. We’re so proud to be able to help bring it to the world.”

Quite a few oceans apart from its previous works, Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game, then. Needless to say though that, whatever this creation is, it has certainly piqued our interest. If you're dribbling on a similar wavelength, then be sure to read on, as we'll be sharing all the details that have been brought to our attention to date. Despelote: just what is it, and how exactly will it breathe life into the streets of Ecuador in 2024?

What Is Despelote?

To put it short, Despelote is an upcoming adventure game by Julian Cordero and Sebastian Valbuena. In this rather peculiar venture, players take on the role of an eight-year-old named Julián—a boy living in the dense town of Quito during the events leading up to the World Cup qualifiers in 2001. As such, soccer fans are invited to enroll in a “slice-of-life” story that's evidently chock-full of idyllic landscapes and personalities.

In the words of Panic Inc.: “despelote is a soccer game about people. Get immersed in the streets and parks of Quito through the eyes and ears of eight year old Julián. Dribble, pass and shoot your soccer ball around town, and see what happens when you kick it someone’s way. Feel the city change as Ecuador comes closer than ever to qualifying for the World Cup.”

Story

Right now, we can't say we know what will happen between the events of Julián's tale and the World Cup qualifiers. What we do know, however, is that Ecuador did, for the first time ever, qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2002, so chances are the events scripted in Despelote will reflect the trials, tribulations, and above all, the celebrations in Quito during Ecuador's rise to glory back in 2001. That remains to be confirmed, though.

Gameplay

From what we've caught so far, gameplay in Despelote will revolve around exploration, particularly in the alleys and parks of Quito. Seeing through the eyes of an eight-year-old, you will have the opportunity to immerse in a childish memoir—a tale that depicts key events that would later go down as some of Ecuador's greatest moments in the history of football.

“Run, pass, and dribble as eight year old Julián in this slice of life game all about football,” reads the elevator pitch. “Explore the streets and parks of Quito, set against the backdrop of Ecuador's first qualifying run for the World Cup in 2001 and meet its community through funny emergent interactions.”

Panic Inc. describes the game as a “bittersweet and sometimes dreamy semi-autobiographical tale of youth.” As such, players will be invited to entwine with a child's core memories of Quito, a place “full of activities, interactions, and mischief to get up to.” So, expect a lot more than simply booting a ball around a field.

Development

Panic Inc. first announced its plans to bring Despelote to consoles and PC on May 11, 2023. If all goes according to plan, then technically, it should arrive at some point in 2024. That is, to say, that it won't stumble upon any molehills along the way, of course.

Fortunately, you can catch a glimpse of the project at the Tribeca Festival this forthcoming June. If you're hovering around NYC between June 9th and 17th, then you can get in an even more in-depth look at Despelote and additional information from the creators themselves.

Trailer

The good news is, there is in fact a trailer of Despelote to tide us over. The bad news is, it doesn't give us any idea of when it'll be coming out. Nevertheless, it's a trailer, and it does a pretty tidy job of providing enough in-game footage to keep us on tenterhooks. Well played, Panic Inc. You can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Despelote will be coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Game Store at some stage in 2024. It hasn't been said yet whether or not it'll be heading to ex-gen hardware, though judging from the facts laid out by Cordero and Valbuena, it appears that it'll be locked to current gen platforms. Does this mean there's no chance of it ever coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or Switch? Only time will tell on that one.

As it stands, we can't say if or when there'll be any type of update on the editions front. That said, if any special versions or pre-order bonuses do pop up, then you'll find the details here. Until then, you can add the standard copy to your wishlist over on Steam.

Any chance of a Game Pass or PlayStation Plus debut? Again, who knows. The possibility of such a thing clearly exists, though Cordero and Valbuena don't seem to have mentioned it in passing. Yet.

If you're interested in staying in the loop while Panic Inc. continues to iron out the creases, then be sure to check in with the official social feed for all the latest updates here. Should anything noteworthy pop up ahead of its 2024 launch, we'll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Despelote when it arrives next year? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.