22cans, the Peter Molyneux-led studio, has revealed the launch date of the Early Access version of its upcoming game, Masters of Albion. It is a "God game" genre that blends strategy, simulation, town management, and real-time defense. A new trailer accompanied the announcement:
Albion, a land shaped by the hands of heroes, is at a great turning point in its history. Its lords and luminaries have pulled Albion’s society into a new age of manufacturing and production, a golden era, an industrial revolution. But behind this modernization lurks a painful past of magic and mayhem, one that threatens to drag Albion back into a dark age of mysticism.
Shape the world from above as a god or step directly into it by possessing heroes, workers, animals and more.
Masters of Albion mixes strategy, simulation, town management, and real-time defense, all woven into a rich narrative-driven world.
“Masters of Albion is the culmination of my life’s work, a game that owes so much to titles like Dungeon Keeper, Black & White, and Fable,"Peter Molyneux said in a press release."It’s a totally unique game that we hope will delight players, a game that brings God Games into the modern gaming landscape and puts the genre firmly back on the map.”
Features of Masters of Albion include:
Build, Create, and Customise
As a god, you have absolute freedom over your towns and villages:
• Design and build every structure
• Hire, house and manage your workforce
• Customise buildings with paint, patterns and embellishments
• Combine building types into unique multi-purpose structures
• No timers or waiting, build instantly and iterate freely
From small workshops to sprawling towns, Albion grows exactly how you decide.
Wield the Power of the God Hand
Command the world with ancient powers:
• Manipulate buildings and objects freely
• Possess and control the living
• Inspire, reward, insult, or punish your people
• Throw giant boulders, spiked balls, exploding barrels or just plain old-fashioned people
• Rain lightning, fire and destruction down upon your enemies
• Shape Albion with absolute authority
Enjoy the freedom that being a god brings, but with great freedom comes great responsibility.
Roam Freely Across Albion
Experience the world from multiple perspectives:
• View Albion from the heavens or possess living beings to explore on foot
• Control heroes, dogs, workers and even chickens
• Complete quests to unlock treasures and secrets
• Delve into dangerous underground cave networks
• Craft weapons and armour for your heroes
• Design the clothes that your workers wear (however bizarre)
• Explore, experiment and uncover the forgotten history of Albion
Defend the Night
When night falls, Albion is no longer safe. Malevolent creatures emerge from the darkness, attacking towns and killing indiscriminately. Survival depends on preparation and decisive action:
• Design, build and arm powerful defensive turrets
• Hire heroes to protect the people
• Escort the vulnerable through the terrors of the night
• Construct walls, choke points, and deadly defences
• Channel enemies into carefully planned kill zones
• Use god powers to strike fear into the undead
• Possess heroes and fight enemies directly in real-time combat
Each night tests your planning, creativity, and resolve.
Key Themes
• Power and responsibility
• Industry versus ancient magic
• Freedom of choice and consequence
• Cosy creativity contrasted with chaos and danger
Masters of Albion releases in Early Access via Steam on April 22nd at 6pm BST. It is available to wishlist on Steam.
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