Annapurna Interactive, the publisher behind indie gems like What Remains of Edith Finch, Journey, The Outer Wilds, and Stray, has just announced a new Blade Runner game under their internal studio’s development. Since they have only served as publishers up until now, this will be the first title the company develops. It will also be the first Blade Runner game in over 26 years since the last one’s release was way back in the year 1997.
Annapurna’s digital showcase revealed the trailer for a new game they;re developing called Blade Runner: 2033 Labyrinth.
- The game’s plot takes place in 2022, which falls at a timeline between the 1982 and 2017 films.
- Simply put, the plot of Blade Runner (1982) was set in 2019, while Blade Runner: 2049’s (2017) timeline was 2049.
- What’s more interesting is that the developers have stated that the game is canon and not a spin-off. This implies that the game’s story will closely relate to the narratives of both films.
What to Expect from Blade Runner: 2033 Labyrinth
Narrative Perspective
- The game takes place in 2022 within the Blade Runner universe. That said, we will be experiencing a narrative around the Blackout of 2022.
- The Blackout is an event concerning using a nuclear weapon in a war between humans and replicants, putting most of the world’s population in darkness.
- You will probably play as a male replicant who must fight through the situation and uncover some secrets or fulfill his purpose.
- The timeline will be closer to the first film. When the game releases, we might see important characters like Rick Deckard, Gaff, Rachael, and Dr. Eldon Tyrell.
- The game should shed some light on what Deckard was up to in the time before 2049 when we see him in the film alongside Officer K.
- We can expect a story covering the events leading to the film Blade Runner: 2049. It might primarily be a tale of a dispute between the replicants and humans.
- We can also look forward to some detective-based elements in the game.
- Annapurna is famous for its compelling narrative-centric games, so we have high hopes regarding this company’s debut game they’re developing in-house.
Gameplay Perspective
- Looking at the 1997 point-and-click adventure game, this one could be something similar with modern coating.
- It might be a dialogue-based narrative-driven adventure game with the straightforward purpose of uncovering a story chapter by chapter.
- The publisher mainly brought indie games to us. We can expect a similar independent title that might not strive to achieve scale or realism, but rather a stylized, story-driven experience.
- The budget allotted for the game is unknown, and Annapurna has the money to spare as a big production house that also invests in films.
- As a result, we might also see a semi-open world third-person action RPG with 8-9 hours of gameplay. Blade Runner can provide the ideal environment for such a game.
- The game should be visually set in a futuristic sci-fi Los Angeles with a cyberpunk art style.
- Gear up for some flashy neon visuals that will provide contrast amidst a dark and gloomy dystopian atmosphere.
Release Date
The company did not communicate anything regarding the release date yet. But, they have stated that the game would be coming to PC and all the major consoles. We will keep you posted once more details about the upcoming project from Annapurna are revealed.
Are you looking forward to the release of Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth? Let us know if you have any theories about what the game’s story will be about. We would love to hear from you in the comments below.
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