Tencent Targets Western Audience with Arthurian Knights in Tides of Annihilation

In an insightful interview with Wccftech at Gamescom 2024, the developers of Tides of Annihilation from Eclipse Glow Games delved into the game's unique concept and future plans. Let's explore what makes this game stand out and what's on the horizon.

Tides of Annihilation Targets a Western Audience

The Central Concept of Arthurian Myths and Knights

Eclipse Glow Games, a China-based studio, has crafted Tides of Annihilation with a Western audience in mind, influenced by their financial backer, Tencent. The game 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." This led to the central theme revolving around knights, evolving into a narrative centered on King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Set in a post-apocalyptic modern-day London, Tides of Annihilation follows the journey of the protagonist, Gwendolyn, who appears to be the last human survivor after an Outworld invasion. The game blends modern settings with fantasy elements, drawing inspiration directly from Arthurian myths.

Devil May Cry-inspired Combat and Over 30 Bosses

The gameplay of Tides of Annihilation has been likened to the classic Devil May Cry series, a comparison the developers embrace. They noted, "It’s definitely more like Devil May Cry," but with the added feature of difficulty selection to cater to a broader range of players. The combat system is designed to be accessible yet customizable, allowing players to choose from four weapons and over ten different Knights to assist Gwendolyn. As she navigates through a devastated London, Gwendolyn can command the legendary Knights of the Round Table, adding depth to the gameplay. With over 30 unique bosses to challenge, players are in for an engaging experience. "Players will have to prepare for very challenging boss fights," the developers emphasized.

Plans of Creating an Anthology

Looking ahead, Eclipse Glow Games expressed interest in expanding Tides of Annihilation into an anthology series. They aim to explore different settings and mythologies, each potentially featuring a new protagonist. "But we would still want to use the Outworld invasion concept that we're using for Tides of Annihilation," they stated, indicating a desire to maintain a cohesive narrative thread across future titles. The success of the initial game is crucial for realizing this vision and bringing more mythologies to life.

Currently in its beta phase, Tides of Annihilation is slated for a tentative release in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players will join Gwendolyn on her quest to unravel the mysteries of the Outworld invasion and save both London and the intertwined fantasy realm of Avalon.