Yuan Cui, Creator of MadCraft Talks Painted in Blood – Interview Series

MadCraft has announced its plans to bring Painted in Blood, a modern first-person shooter with familiar infusions of single-player horror shooters of old, to PC via Steam.

“Doom 3 and Undying meets Painkiller in Painted in Blood; an intense, modern horror FPS game created by developer MadCraft,” the press release reads in part. “Designed as a love letter to classic single-player horror shooters while pushing visual and gameplay boundaries, players step into the haunting realm of an artist’s twisted palette of nightmares.”

In an effort to learn more about Painted in Blood, we decided to sit down with MadCraft creator Yuan Cui to talk more about it ahead of its global debut.

Thanks for taking the time to sit down and speak with us today — we’re excited to hear more about your upcoming game, Painted in Blood. Before we jump into that, though, would you mind introducing yourself to our readers and telling us a bit about your role at MadCraft?

Yuan: My name is Yuan Cui, the creator of Madcraft, and I’m also the director, programmer, and artist all in one. Painted in Blood started as a solo passion project and now I work with a close friend as well as some brilliant external talent. I mainly manage the game’s overall direction as I had the original vision for it many years ago.

You’ve talked about classic first-person horror shooters and how Painted in Blood will lean into that realm with its own modern twist. Please could you tell us more about those signature influences and the works that inspired you to build Painted in Blood?

Yuan: Throughout my gaming history, my favourite FPS games are always something in between horror and action, such as Doom3, Fear, Clive Barker’s Undying. These are the most memorable games I’ve played in the past and the most inspirational.  European castles and mansions have also interested and inspired me since my childhood, and you’ll see those influences within Painted in Blood’s main environments.

Could you tell us more about the plot and the characters who’ll play a part in this world? Set the scene for us, if you’d be so kind.

Yuan: The whole story of Painted In Blood is somewhat a mystery, so I won’t spoil it too much – but basically, our protagonist, Edward Patrick, is making a self-discovery within his nightmares, as well as trying to remember the important parts of his missing memory. There are also some messages beyond the game that we want to portray, such as war, love, sacrifice, and the meaning of creativity. I want players to feel something while playing the game, more than just the game itself.

Let’s talk more about this “bada** combat” and the tools that’ll be available in Painted in Blood. Enlighten us on the weapons and general tools of the trade.

Yuan: We took the approach of similar direction of games like Painkiller, featuring somewhat fantasy-looking weapons – not because we have similar settings, but within our story, weapons are seen as artist’s tools. They are part of Edward’s psyche, and a reflection of his inner self; chaotic, conflicted, and creative at the same time. You can tell by looking at the design.

Sanity clearly plays a huge part in Painted in Blood’s gameplay; “composure [is to] be kept firmly in check to survive the dark and gritty aesthetic.” Tell us a bit more about that, if you’d be so kind. How exactly will our mental state affect the journey?

Yuan: We created a series of logic and events to support the idea of “sanity”. However, we will not fully explain how it works in-game as we want players to experience it for themselves. Based on our play test, we found it’s more fun that we don’t explain the logic or details too deeply and only show what happens.

And how would you recommend breaking into this world? Do you have any useful tips or tricks that you would be willing to share with those who might be interested in picking up a copy of Painted in Blood?

Yuan: I think any FPS fans who love atmospheric environments should give this a try. In addition to maintaining the old school play style, pay more attention to the surroundings, and explore different ways to play. Getting familiar with the mechanics will definitely help!

We’re curious to hear more about the next steps that you will be taking with Painted in Blood. How’s the fourth quarter shaping up for you guys, if you don’t mind me asking?

Yuan: If the Early Access launch goes smoothly, we’ll be moving forward and starting Chapter 2’s development immediately. The later chapters are not made at this point, but they are already planned. There are so many ideas I want to experiment with, as well as new environments to make. We actually can’t wait for it.

Is there a way for us to stay up to date with Painted in Blood post-Steam Next Fest? Say, are there any useful social handles, newsletters or additional event details that you wouldn’t mind sharing with our readers?

Yuan: Keep an eye on my X social page (@Guesscui)! If there’s major news or updates, I’ll be making posts for sure.  Also, keep an eye on the Steam store page as well!

Do you have anything else that you would like to convey to our readers before we finish up here?

Yuan: Give Painted in Blood a try – we’ve put a lot of love into it so far and there’s still so much more to come. The direction might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you are an FPS horror fan, then you might find something new that also feels classically retro. The goal for Madcraft in the long run is to make a AAA quality game while maintaining its indie approach. If you like that idea and want to follow our journey, please support us. We’ll do whatever it takes to make the best possible game within our reach. Thanks!

Thanks for taking this time to speak with us, Yuan — we really appreciate it. Best of luck with Painted in Blood!

You can learn even more about MadCraft’s Painted in Blood by following the studio on X. For additional news and pre-launch coverage, be sure to add the game to your wishlist on Steam here.