ExeKiller: Everything We Know

If you're looking for some gun action, the Wild Wild West is always teeming with it. It's not just a place on a map; it's a lawless state of mind where outlaws become legends. With fiery hues as the sun sets and deserted streets brimming with dust, the rugged frontier is the perfect backdrop for letting loose some gunpowder. 

Now, add some cyberpunk action to it, and you have a Mad Max recreation. I'm pretty sure this is what Polish developer Paradark Studio had in mind when developing the concept behind their new game. ExeKiller is the post-apocalyptic sci-fi action you never knew you needed. Although it has taken years to take shape, the upcoming title may be a worthwhile contender for Cyberpunk 2077. So what's the hype all about? Sit tight as we peel back the layers in ExeKiller: Everything We Know.

What is ExeKiller?

ExeKiller is an upcoming IP that blends retro-futuristic graphics with a post-apocalyptic narrative. The first-person action-adventure shooter game lets you walk in the shoes of a futuristic bounty hunter. Your goal is to collect S.O.U.L.S., a biochip device that collects information about its owner with the potential to control them. It's a game that features dystopian action with a 90s vibe. Granted that Western genres and cyberpunk are riding the wave, having a game that blends both worlds is worth checking out. 

Story

ExeKiller's narrative takes place in 1988 in New York, after a great cataclysmic event. “The Great Fire Disaster” rocks the world. Consequentially, the population is scattered, and power-hungry corporations are taking center stage. 

Despite having a retro-futuristic theme, the game paints a picture of an alternate reality on Earth where an apocalypse occurred 20 years ago. In fact, some places on the map are recognizable. From the trailer, you can see a fallen Statue of Liberty. I guess we might see more historical landmarks that point to a devoid American landscape.

Our protagonist, Denzel Fenix, works for one of these corporations, the Helion Corporation, as a bounty hunter. His quest is to collect S.O.U.L.S., or he won’t exist. 

Moreover, the game gives you absolute control over the narrative. Your decisions shape the outcome and let you traverse the vast, semi-open world, roaming with enemies and dynamic weather patterns. 

Gameplay

Talk about player agency; ExeKiller is building its foundation on this. As a gun for hire, you certainly have your work cut out for you. But the best part is that you'll be free to dictate your encounters. You can choose to attack enemies with guns blazing or use a stealth attack to take them out. The game will feature a fully operational stealth system, where you can assassinate your enemies point-blank or sneak around. It all depends on how you want to play the game. 

Your choices also alter N.P.C.'s response and the game's potential endings. The game's vibrant dialogue system supports this, accommodating various play styles. According to the devs, this type of immersive action draws inspiration from classics such as Dishonored and Deus Ex. 

Aside from your in-game choices, you can further customize your gaming experience with upgrades. However, the upcoming I.P. departs from traditional skill levelling. Instead, you get character progression through technology upgrades for weapons, augments, and mods. 

Now, in the wasteland, there'll be plenty of enemies to take down. But this entirely boils down to how you want to approach it. If you're the rugged and ready-for-action type, you'll have a couple of weapons to strike down adversaries. If you run out of bullets, your environment can be a useful tool. Just shoot an electrical node or toss a car battery towards them; the electrical charge will send sparks flying out of their heads. 

Furthermore, players will receive nifty gadgets to help them sneak, hack or fight. From the trailer, the player holds a radio that can hack, make a phone call, send messages, locate enemies using radar, or even summon your levitating cyber-tech car, Appaloosa. 

Development

You'd think that the brains behind this very ambitious project are one of the big studios fond of releasing A.A.A. titles—quite the contrary. ExeKiller is the brainchild of independent game developer Paradark Studio. The studio, based in Cracow, Poland, is owned by Kasia Widmańska & Amadeusz Wróbel. This is the first game project by the duo, who have experience working on other games in the fields of film, photography and graphic design.

Exekiler's journey dates back over five years, when the duo started prototyping the game's concept but would often shelve it when job offers came up. 

The devs cited that the game's inspiration stems from classics such as Red Dead Redemption, Fallout, Deus Ex, Dishonoured, Stalker and Observer. Aside from these games, cinema also heavily influences the game's development, with the developers taking a page out of Mad Max, Escape from New York, and Blade Runner's books. 

Behind the creation, the devs are using Unreal Engine 4 to build the game, but they say they will update the project to the newest version. Moreover, they are using Quixel for the built architecture, which will render excellent 3D models and textures. The devs are now using Character Creator for N.P.C.s, but they hinted at switching to MetaHuman.

Trailer

Thankfully, we have a trailer to back these details up, revealing the game's key elements and gameplay. Although the devs have only released pre-alpha footage, it looks stunning, and I can't wait to see how it'll look on launch day. You can view the trailer in the video embedded above. 

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

ExeKiller is slated to launch exclusively for PC via Steam. However, a precise date has yet to be communicated by the developers. Given the project's magnitude, we could expect it to drop late this year or in 2025. Much of the game's information is in the wind, and the same goes for its launch editions. We'll have to keep you posted on that. 

Are you interested in staying up-to-date with ExeKiller ahead of its release? If so, be sure to check in with the folks over at Paradark Studio for all the latest developments via their official social handle here. If anything changes ahead of its debut, 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 pick up a copy of ExeKiller when it arrives on Steam later this year? Let us know your thoughts on our socials here.