Deathloop is a huge success for Arkane Studios. The game is having rave reviews and it’s proven to be a smash hit for the studio. Hey, even the team behind IndieGala already wrote extensively about it. My colleague The one and only, Italian Guy put it on the list of the most anticipated PC games for 2021 (check it out here). And in my usual cinematic fashion, explored a bunch of movies that share the same theme as the game. Time Loops. You can look back at the article here.
But I’m here about something else. I’m here about the creators behind the game. Indeed. I’m going to devote this article about Arkane Studios. The culprits for the Deathloop video game. However, before I get to the main subject, I feel that I need to go back to the game itself. Game director Dinga Bakaba even described the game as an “inverted Cluedo”, but I need more than that.
Well, it’s murder puzzle that the player needs to figure out how to solve in one perfect run after failing through many previous runs. Furthermore, the game’s setting of Blackreef is based on the Faroe Islands and the Scottish Highlands. And you’ve guessed it. Ispired largely by Skyfall. The styles of the Swinging Sixties and the approach used to depict the era has . For instance in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E which remains one of the biggest influences for the studio.
But What’s Deathloop All About You Might Ask?
Developed by Arkane Lyon and published by Bethesda Softworks, Deathloop is an innovative first-person shooter launching for PlayStation 5 and PC. As Colt, you are trapped in a time loop on the enigmatic island of Blackreef. Doomed to repeat the same day for eternity. However, the only chance for escape is to break the loop. How you might ask? Well, by unearthing information and assassinating eight key targets before the day resets. But beware! Lurking in the shadows is a rival assassin, Julianna. She’s equipped with her own equally powerful abilities and weapons. And she’s on a mission to protect the loop by assassinating Colt and restarting the cycle.
Deathloop is of course available for purchase here at IndieGala. You can purchase it just by a single click here. The game is bound to keep you on your toes for sure.
But Are The Fans Happy With Deathloop?
*Dan Longman writes in his Steam comment: Deathloop is an amazing game, it’s a time loop game but helps you get through it with a great storyboard that keeps track of all the info you find and lets you easily figure out what to do next. The story is super great and the voice acting and characters are amazing. It looks great and plays even great it is Arkane’s best playing game and has so many elements of the amazing Dishonored series. You need to play this game.
*Wile Vegan Atheist adds: Arkane has done it again! I just could not put the game down, and I did not want it to end. 30+ hours of playing + 100% achieves = I am finally done with this loop. I can finally go outside.
And what about the studio itself? What’s so special about Arkane Studios and what’s have they done leading up to Deathloop?
Arkane Studios Started In The Late ’90s
Yup. Based in Lyon, France, Arkane Studios is a fairly new company. It was founded on October 1st, 1999 and up until now, they have 9 games on their resume. But let’s start from the beginning. The company was started with an investment of 1,150,000 French francs and with the help of 11 founders. One of which was Raphaël Colantonio, then part of the French offices of Electronic Arts (EA). During the 1990s that is. But after he left EA, he was able to fund Arkane Studios partly with financial help from his uncle. The rest is very much history.
It’s Not An Overnight Success For Arkane Studios
Indeed it’s not. The 1999 beginning was humble, but it took a while to get the momentum going. And in 2002, the studio produced the first game. Arx Fatalis was released in 2002 and although well-received, it was a commercial failure. Dark Messiah of Might and Magic arrived four years later thanks to Ubisoft’s publishing efforts. But it took a while for the studio to get momentum and a flagship game that be proud of.
2012’s Dishonored delivered all of that and then some. The action-adventure game proved to be quite the success story that they were looking for. And since then, it grew into a game series with 2 additional sequels. Dishonored 2 and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider. Dishonored received positive reviews upon release while focusing on the missions’ individual narratives. And the freedom available in completing them of course. You can check out the Dishonored series here at IndieGala. Take your time and enjoy.
And then there’s Prey. The 2017 first-person shooter that takes place in an alternate timeline that resulted in an accelerated Space Race. Much like the Dishonored, Prey was received positively by critics. And even got a best action game nomination, at The 2017 Game Awards. Much like with the Dishonored and with Deathloop, you can safely assume that we do have Prey as well. It’s here at IndieGala and waiting for you to devour it. Go ahead.
Cool Actors And Cooler Spin-Offs For Arkane Studios
Yes. If you take a look at the creative lineup in the first Dishonored game you’ll notice something very interesting. An impressive list of actors that provide the voice work for the characters. Young Chloë Grace Moretz voiced the young princess Emily Kaldwin. While John Slattery was behind the Admiral Farley Havelock character. Michael Madsen, Lena Headey, Brad Dourif, Carrie Fisher are also there. And so is the Oscar winner Susan Sarandon in the role of Granny Rags. Not bad right? We thought so too.
But that’s not all. Arkane Studios is responsible for Wolfenstein: Youngblood as well. The spin-off from the Wolfenstein series. And of course, there’s the Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot game, which is another game in their ever-growing resume. Both of them came out in 2019 and you’ve guessed it. Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot is available for purchase here at IndieGala. Along with plenty of other Wolfenstein games as well. Just click here and take your pick. You’re welcome.
Deathloop for 2021 And Redfall for 2022
And a piece that came out in the turbulent 2021. But yeah. This first-person shooter is set in the ’60s. Furthermore, It’s at the same time the only 2021 release for the studio and it’s good. Really good. According to most of the Steam comments anyway. Furthermore, in a review for Wired, Gabriel Solis wrote: that the game’s profound meditation on time” kept him “engaged” in the game. Not too shabby right?
And as for the next year’s projects, Arkane Studios announced Redfall. The upcoming open-world, action-adventure first-person shooter game which will be published by Bethesda Networks. Players will get to fight against vampires as well as human enemies within the game. Harvey Smith and Ricardo Bare are designated directors behind the game. And the game is being developed right now by Arkane Studios at their Austin, Texas locations. But you’ll just have to wait for the summer of 2022 for it. Are you excited? We sure are here at IndieGala. Here’s the reveal trailer for Redfall, and yes. You can go ahead and marvel at it while you wait for the real deal.
What Are Your Thoughts About Arkane Studios’s Deathloop?
Let us know in the comment section. We’d love to know all about it. Hit that comment section and let us know if you loved it or not.
