Summary

Stray Kite Studios, a team of industry veterans with credits on major titles like BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires, announces their first original game: Wartorn. This real-time strategy roguelite boasts destructible environments, challenging moral choices, and a striking painterly art style. Wartorn is slated for a Spring 2025 Early Access launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Wartorn, the debut original title from Dallas-based Stray Kite Studios (founded 2018, approx. 30 employees), blends real-time strategy and roguelite mechanics. The game follows two elven sisters on a perilous journey to reunite with their family, forcing players to navigate difficult battles and morally complex decisions. Previously, Stray Kite developed the standalone Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure and numerous creative maps for Fortnite.

Wartorn Is Chaotic in More Than One Way

Wartorn's fantasy world is deeply fractured and chaotic, presenting constant challenges for the player. This chaos extends to the game's physics-driven environmental destruction, ensuring each playthrough is unique and unpredictable. The game explores themes of finding purpose amidst chaos, with co-founder and creative director Paul Hellquist stating, "We’ve poured our hearts into creating a game that not only entertains but also makes players think deeply about sacrifice, survival, and the bonds that unite us."

Wartorn Will Require Players To Make Tough Decisions

Beyond combat, players face difficult choices between battles—deciding who to save, who to feed, and ultimately shaping the narrative. These choices, combined with the game's dynamic magic system (allowing players to mix and match elemental forces like fire, water, and lightning with strategic situational effects), contribute to the unique story-driven roguelite experience.

We’ve poured our hearts into creating a game that not only entertains but also makes players think deeply about sacrifice, survival, and the bonds that unite us.

Wartorn's progression system features persistent upgrades between runs, making each attempt easier. The game's painterly aesthetic enhances the dramatic setting, while accessible gameplay options, such as the ability to slow down time and issue precise commands, ensure a smooth experience for all players. The game is set to launch in Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store in Spring 2025.