Publisher tinyBuild and developer Fire & Frost Studios shared the first preview for the upcoming third-person RPG Of Ash and Steel ahead of the game's official 2025 PC release.
The game is said to have been inspired by popular RPGs of the early 2000s and had Gothic and The Witcher as its main inspirations. Lead developer Viktor Kondakov said that Of Ash and Steel is aiming to bring back the adventurous vibes of historic RPGs.
Of Ash and Steel Preview
He added that the game plans to reward players for exploration and will have no quest markers. It will instead incorporate modern UI, tutorials, and other conveniences to make the gaming experience smoother.
Of Ash and Steel is set in a medieval fantasy open world and will be coming out on PC via Steam sometime next year.
It will feature the return of the old-school spirit of adventure but with modern design. It will focus on rich storytelling, deep character progression, and dynamic combat, according to RPG Site.
The game puts players face-to-face with various dangers that lurk around every corner . It also promises to reward you greatly if you are curious enough and are able to find the courage to seek them out.
Players will have to explore the previously prosperous realm of the Kingdom of the Seven. You will also need to improve your combat skills and forge alliances in order to survive in this dangerous land.
The first preview that was shared for the game showed roughly 20 minutes of gameplay and was followed by a Q&A segment with Fire & Frost Studios. The company was formed with the intent of making a game that was inspired by classic RPGs, IGN said.
An Expansive and Immersive RPG World
The developers also assure players that there will be a lot of things to do other than the main objective in Of Ash and Steel. The main character in the game follows the typical trope of starting out as a hapless nobody but later transforms into an unbeatable hero.
Of Ash and Steel features three different skill branches that players can customize to fit their preferred playstyles. These branches are Survival, Craftsmanship, and War. You are free to allocate your skill points however you like to unlock passive bonuses by exploring the world.
The game's social system also makes players' progression a little bit more noticeable. When your hero's skill grows, the world that he inhabits will also react accordingly, according to Gematsu.