Tencent Targets Western Audience with Arthurian Knights in "Tides of Annihilation"

In an insightful interview with Wccftech at Gamescom 2024, the developers at Eclipse Glow Games delved into the creative vision behind their upcoming action-RPG, Tides of Annihilation. The game, set in a post-apocalyptic London inspired by Arthurian legends, aims to captivate a Western audience. Here's a closer look at the game's concept and what players can expect.

Tides of Annihilation Aims for a Western Audience

The Central Concept of Arthurian Myths and Knights

Eclipse Glow Games, despite being a China-based studio, has chosen to embrace Western themes for Tides of Annihilation due to the strategic direction set by their financial backer, Tencent. As the game's producer explained, "This game and Black Myth: Wukong are two projects invested in by Tencent, and there were different expectations set on these two projects. Black Myth: Wukong targeted the Chinese market, but for this project, we targeted a Western audience, so we chose the Arthurian legends." The game revolves around the protagonist, Gwendolyn, who navigates a modern-day London devastated by an Outworld invasion, blending alternate reality with fantasy elements inspired by the Arthurian myths.

Devil May Cry-inspired Combat and Over 30 Bosses

The combat system in Tides of Annihilation draws clear inspiration from the Devil May Cry series, offering a familiar yet accessible experience. The developers emphasized that the game's combat is "definitely more like Devil May Cry" but includes a difficulty selection feature to cater to a broader audience. Players can customize their combat style with four weapons and command over ten different Knights of the Round Table, who join Gwendolyn in her quest to uncover the truth behind the invasion. With more than 30 unique bosses to challenge, the game promises engaging and varied gameplay.

Plans of Creating an Anthology

Looking ahead, Eclipse Glow Games expressed interest in expanding Tides of Annihilation into an anthology series. The team aims to explore different settings and mythologies, each potentially featuring a new protagonist, while retaining the core concept of an Outworld invasion. "But we would still want to use the Outworld invasion concept that we're using for Tides of Annihilation," they noted. The success of the initial title will be crucial in bringing this vision to fruition.

Currently in its beta phase, Tides of Annihilation is slated for a tentative launch in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players will join Gwendolyn on her journey to save not only London but also the mystical realm of Avalon, which intertwines with the real world in this thrilling action-adventure.