Quantic River: Everything We Know

There's a new cyberpunk-infused world on the cusp of gracing the shores of Kickstarter—a 2.5D action game that will look to infuse dystopian environments with a captivating experience that “seamlessly blends frenetic action with in-depth exploration.” Sounds all rather promising, no? Well, as luck would have it, a great portion of work on this so-called Quantic River has already been carried out, which means, while we've still a ways to go before it hits the shelves, it is, more or less, coming along nicely.

So, what more do you need to know about FluidFury Interactive's latest game? Will there be a story to absorb in this cybernetic realm of theirs, or will it merely be the case of allowing players to run amok with a katana for a short while? Here's everything we can currently tell you about it.

What Is Quantic River?

Quantic River has been described as a 2.5D action-adventure game—a side-scrolling, melee-focused chaos fest, of sorts. In the game, players will fill the weighty boots of a warrior—a katana-clutching brawler who's been sent to unleash their rage on a tyrannical force that just so happens to cloak a cybernetic realm. Piqued your interest? Then let's press on.

“Immerse yourself in a vibrant cyberpunk world and explore dystopian urban landscapes,” the press release adds. “This game offers you a captivating experience that seamlessly blends frenetic action with in-depth exploration. Let yourself be transported by the meticulous artistic direction that breathes life into every corner of his futuristic world.”

Story

Unfortunately, this is where things go a little awry. As it turns out, there isn't all that much paint on the canvas just yet; the devs have yet to fill us in on the overarching narrative that'll take place in the cyberpunk-centric metropolis. That said, we do know that the world has been “ravaged” by an unknown corporation and that you, a katana-wielding warrior, will rise from the ashes and unleash your fury on the world. Correct us if we're wrong, FluidFury — but that's what we're getting from the announcement trailer, at least.

As it’s still early days, we’re likely to see something slightly more in-depth closer to the time of its launch. Until then, just know this: it’s a cyberpunk game, and it’s absolutely bursting with action and wall-to-wall pandemonium. But as for what your role during these unruly times will be remains to be determined.

Gameplay

As far as gameplay elements travel, Quantic River will keep to a traditional melee-based combat blueprint. To this end, players can expect an “elaborate sword combat system focusing on parries, blocks, deflections, and counter-attacks.” According to the devs, “each move demands precise mastery, where synchronization and timing are crucial.”

In addition to the swordplay and hands-on melee mechanics, Quantic River will also incorporate “meticulous artistic direction that breathes life into every corner of this futuristic world.” There'll be plenty of exploration, and more than enough puzzle-platforming to shovel through, too. So, if that sounds like your ideal cup of tea, then you ought to stick around for the updates as the game channels through the motions over on its Kickstarter campaign. Speaking of which…

Development

If you happened to miss the memo earlier, Quantic River is being developed by FluidFury Interactive, an independent studio that, at the time of writing, hasn't released anything outside of the initial info dump surrounding Quantic River. If, of course, you would like to support the project and catch all the latest updates, then you can pledge to their Kickstarter campaign by filling out the appropriate form here.

From the sounds of the press release, Quantic River won't be shedding its PC exclusivity just yet. More to the point, it will only be available to purchase via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store. A release date has yet to be set in stone. But more on that shortly.

Trailer

Despite the elevator pitch being a little bare bones, FluidFury Interactive has gone as far as to post a short trailer over on Steam, mainly as a vessel to tease its core gameplay features. If that's the sort of thing that'll tide you over whilst the devs dot the i's and cross the t's, then be sure to check it out in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Quantic River will be shaping up for a release on PC via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store at some point in the (hopefully) not-so-distant future. As there's the Kickstarter campaign to consider—an obstacle unto itself, and not to mention a necessary requirement for the sake of claiming the appropriate funding—it's hard to say whether or not we'll be seeing the game arrive before 2025. Again, who knows? We're merely speculating at this moment in time.

As far as editions go, it's a little too early to say for certain what sorts of things are in the pipeline. Again, we're likely to catch wind of any potential deluxe editions in a future update on Kickstarter. Until then, you'll have to settle for the good old-fashioned standard version. You can add that to your wishlist on Steam here.

Planning on staying up to speed with Quantic River as it courses through the motions over on Kickstarter? You can check in with the team over on their official social handle for more updates here. Alternatively, you can pitch up on their Kickstarter campaign for additional patch notes and development milestones here. If anything major does happen to pop up ahead of its global debut, then we'll be sure to fill in all of the blanks right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be plunging into the realm of Quantic Dream when it arrives on PC? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.