Taking a unique twist to the overcrowded open-world genre, The Falconeer is a “dogfight and acrobatic aerial combat RPG” made by solo developer Tomas Sala. The game will soar as an Xbox Series X and Series S launch title as well on PC and Xbox One on November 10, 2020. ‘The Free & The Fallen’ trailer shows off the Great Ursee, a world with a near-infinite body of water where The Falconeer‘s story takes place. In the skies, the rich and the powerful lives in airships guarded by mercenary Falconeers, while conflicts brew on the waters below among four competing factions:
- The Northern Imperium: The greatest power on The Great Ursee, they command the northern regions with nobility, subterfuge, and manipulation.
- The Mancer Order: Master scholars who control all access to technology across the Ursee.
- The Civilian Freehouses: A consortium of independent communities working to defend local trades, but often manipulated by the Imperium and Mancer Order.
- The Freebooter Rebellion: Banished into the depth of the Ursee, they now returned with dark and ancient knowledge to wreak havoc.
Composer Benedict Nichols (Before We Leave, Dead Frontier 2) lends his talent to make each faction in The Falconeer feel more distinct with a combination of synths, Mongolian throat-singing, Balkan choir, and bagpipes. Tomas said that he wanted to make a tangible world where you discover everything about the Ursee depending on your experiences.
I wanted the world of the Ursee to feel tangible, not just visually but with history and conflict you get to experience. It’s never immediately clear who is a ‘good guy’ or a ‘bad guy’. I hope players get to experience The Falconeer as a journey of discovery, unlocking the secrets of The Great Ursee and its people as they play.”
As a next-gen launch title, The Falconeer will offer high-definition visuals across all formats, including 4K 60fps. Talking with Xbox Wire, Tomas believes that developers should try to achieve smooth performances using next-generation hardware. The extra power and performance make games “so much more alive”. The Falconeer Day One Edition is available to pre-order at retailers. You can also sign-up for the exclusive PC beta by joining the The Falconeer Discord channel. Share with me your thoughts on the game by swooping down into the comments below.
