Steel Paws: Everything We Know

Steel Paws’ reveal trailer has just been released at The Game Awards 2024 event, and gamers are already excited. Particularly because it’s the next project from Shenmue and Virtua Fighter creator Yu Suzuki. While the game will be mobile exclusive, it’ll also be Netflix exclusive and, thus, guarantees some level of quality. We’re still a little too early in the development phases. However, we’ve compiled everything we know about Steel Paws down below.

What is Steel Paws?

Steel Paws is an upcoming anime-style mobile exclusive game. The title will be coming exclusively to Netflix. So, be sure to get a subscription plan going before launch day. 

Story

We don’t know the exact story that Steel Paws will follow. All we have are tidbits of information on the arc it’s likely to take. We know for sure that you will be controlling a girl who will have robot kitties in tow. Together, you’ll explore a mysterious tower, which is said to emerge from the ground every century. 

Steel Paws will create a brand-new world from Yu Suzuki, a gaming legend. It’ll draw inspiration from anime art styles. While there may be other games similar to it, the upcoming title is a brand-new entry that could set new heights in the gaming industry.

Gameplay

Unfortunately, we don’t have information on the actual gameplay of the upcoming Steel Paws. I mean, apart from it being an action-adventure game. While the game is Yu Suzuki, Shenmue’s creator’s next project, it boasts a different style fans of the series may not see coming. 

Netflix Games does pull the curtain further back on the action-adventure you can expect. You’ll be controlling a girl and her robot kitty companions. It’ll be a team effort, with the robot kitties capable of accessing upgrades over time. Your primary antagonist (or goal) will be a mysterious tower that emerges every century. 

By mastering the girl’s abilities and leveling up your companions, you’ll be able to discover new enemies and rewards and find endless ways to save the world.

Development

Developer YS NET and publisher Netflix are currently working on Steel Paws. The game has only recently been announced by Bandai Namco Entertainment to be in development. So, we presume it’s still in its very early stages of development. As a result, it’s unsurprising that we only have nuggets of information on the story and gameplay. Hopefully, more updates will be released over time. 

Steel Paws will be Yu Suzuki’s next project, as you may know from his work creating Sega’s Shenmue and Virtua Fighter franchises. Suzuki has quite a long history of developing games from as early as 1984. It was when his racing game Out Run climbed to the top of the ranks in gaming. He designed the game, but it’s his project, Shenmue, that fans may know better.

Shenmue is also an action-adventure that launched as early as 1999. The game was released on Dreamcast and continued to enjoy massive success, releasing three mainline titles over the years, the latest being 2019’s Shenmue 3. These have all been written, directed, and produced by Yu Suzuki. Another noteworthy game Yu Suzuki has worked on is Virtua Fighter. 

Virtua Fighter is a fighting game renowned for being the first to incorporate 3D polygonal graphics in the genre. Suzuki has directed five games and produced four games in the Virtua Fighter franchise. The renowned Japanese developer has been highly instrumental at SEGA. 

Suzuki and YS NET have worked previously on the arcade shooter Air Twister, too. It was launched on iOS platforms via Apple Arcade in 2022. With Steel Paws being the next project in line, we suspect that it couldn’t be in better hands.

Trailer

Watch Steel Paws’ premiere trailer, which has just been aired at The Game Awards 2024. Although the trailer is only 30 seconds long, it gives you a relatively clear idea of the story you can expect. Gameplay, on the other hand, may be scarce. It kicks off with a purple-haired girl wearing a mech armor suit. She’s chilling with her three robot kitty companions on a hill, the sun’s rays casting their warmth. 

Suddenly, a mysterious tower emerges from the ground. The tower is spinning around and casting a dazzling white light. In response, the girl and her companions brace themselves for action, which we anticipate will be an action adventure focusing on the girl’s skills and abilities and having her robot kitties step in when needed. 

This is only the first teaser trailer, with hardly much information revealed, especially concerning gameplay. It’s primarily a cinematic video that may be different from the final product. So, keep your eyes peeled for possible future story and gameplay trailers ahead of the final launch.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

It’s official. Steel Paws is coming in 2025. We don’t have an exact launch day yet. However, we’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we know more. Hopefully, it doesn’t go through the multiple delays Shenmue III went through. From December 2017, 2018 to August 2019, and finally November 2019, we hope Steel Paws sticks to its original timeline. 

We can confirm that the upcoming game will be a mobile exclusive. Not only that, but it will also be a Netflix Games exclusive, too. While we cannot confirm whether the game will make it to both Android and iOS platforms, we can only assume that to be the case. Interestingly, Shenmue III launched on PS4 and PC via Epic Games and Steam. However, it’s a bigger title with an anime series adaptation, Shenmue the Animation. Still, it’s hopeful that if Steel Paws were successful, it could port to more platforms.

Meanwhile, editions remain unconfirmed. So, for now, the best way to go is to follow the official handle here to keep track of new updates. 

So, what’s your take? Will you be grabbing a copy of Steel Paws when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here.