Of Ash & Steel: Everything We Know

They don’t make RPGs like they used to. However, a small group of passionate developers are working on a new game that will bring back the essence of classic RPGs: Of Ash & Steel. This new game will blend the old-school RPG concept with modern RPG designs. So, what exactly does this entail? Here is a comprehensive preview of everything you need to know about Of Ash & Steel.

What is Of Ash & Steel?

Of Ash & Steel is an upcoming third-person RPG recently announced by the developer Fire & Frost and publisher tinyBuild. The game promises to bring back the essence of old-school RPGs. For example, it doesn’t feature enemy auto-levelling or quest markers. However, it will also incorporate modern RPG designs. For example, it features a modern user interface, tutorials, environmental markers, and more. It also promises a versatile gameplay design where you will explore an expansive medieval open world as you fight enemies, develop your character, and unravel an intriguing story.

Story

Of Ash & Steel is a story-rich game, and the story unravels as you go. The Kingdom of the Seven, an island that was once a prosperous place, is cursed. The soil doesn’t yield crops, making it impossible to live off the land. Moreover, society is gripped by fear, which seems to have even seeped into the soil. Working hard can’t save you, and you must adapt and fight to survive the perils.

Notably, story-telling is an integral component of the gameplay design, and the developers were careful not to share too much. Presumably, you will uncover the ills plaguing the island and reshape its fate as you continue playing. The story is also dynamic and will evolve as you evolve your character’s skills.

Gameplay

There are many fun and thrilling activities you can enjoy in Of Ash & Steel. The overall gameplay design involves action, adventure, character development, and storytelling.

The game is set in a medieval fantasy open world with an exploration system based on old-school RPG games. The idea is to let your curiosity fuel you as you explore every inch of the world. Notably, you don’t have quest markers to guide your exploration. However, you do have environmental markers. The environments vary, ranging from inhabited villages and lush fields to dark forests.

The game also has an immersive atmosphere that adds life to the world. It incorporates natural weather elements like wind, shifting weather, day-night cycles, and more. You can also hear diverse ambient sounds, such as birds chirping in the background and leaves rustling in the wind. There are also NPCs who go about their everyday activities.

Life on the island is difficult, and you will come across many enemies and hostile creatures as you go. You must fight to survive. Thanks to the game’s methodical action RPG combat system, the fights are epic. They can also be challenging, as the game lacks an enemy auto-levelling system. In addition, your enemies range from ordinary humans to strange creatures with brutal strength and unique abilities. Fortunately, you can improve your fighting skills by expanding your war skill branch. Improving your war skills will unlock new fighting styles, make you stronger, and improve your accuracy. Furthermore, your fighting styles also change depending on your weapon.

Character development and world evolution are also integral elements of the gameplay. You have three skill trees to work with: War, Survival, and Craftsmanship. You can develop and expand all three skill branches as you explore the world, unlock passive bonuses, and allocate attribute points. Interestingly, the world around you evolves as your skills grow, making the action, adventure, and story dynamic. The open world has a lot of treasures and valuable loot to offer, and exploring is the only way to find out what’s out there. Fortunately, you also have a treasure map to help you find hidden treasure, although you need luck to find some.

Finally, an intriguing story unfolds as you explore, overcome enemies, and develop your character. The story evolves as you make more progress and advance your character’s various skill trees.

Development

Of Ash & Steel is developed by Fire & Frost Studios and published by tinyBuild. While tinyBuild is a seasoned publisher, Fire & Frost is a new indie studio, and this is their first game.

“We are a small team of passionate developers who grew up playing classic role-playing games during the 2000s. Many of these games and our shared love for fantasy inspired us to create the game of our dreams, which we’ve been hard at work on for the past few years,” says Viktor, the head of Fire & Frost studios. “We’ve always wanted to make a game that combines the convenience of modern gaming while paying homage to the legendary classic RPGs.”

Trailer

The official trailer for Of Ash & Steel is quite long and gives an intimate, detailed preview of what’s to come. The developers actually recreate a medieval world when presenting the game in the trailer. The head of Fire & Frost explains the game’s core features before showcasing gameplay scenes. The scenes showcase bits of everything the game features, including the open world, epic action, character progression, and treasure collection. A narrator also reveals the game’s background story. Notably, the level of detail in the trailer alone creates high expectations of the game.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Of Ash & Steel is currently under active development and is scheduled to launch in 2025, albeit an official release date is yet to be announced. However, it is already available for wishlisting on Steam. It will be available for PC, but the developers and publishers haven’t specified whether it will run on other platforms. As a new game, it will be the only edition. However, the developers will likely expand it in the future, considering the level of detail they have put into its overall design.

So, what’s your take on our preview of the upcoming third-person RPG Of Ash & Steel? Let us know on our socials here or in the comments below.