Tencent Targets Western Audience with Arthurian Knights in Tides of Annihilation

In a recent interview with Wccftech at Gamescom 2024, the developers of Tides of Annihilation from Eclipse Glow Games delved into the game's unique concept and what players can expect in the future. The game's focus on Arthurian legends and its setting in London is a strategic choice aimed at captivating a Western audience.

Tides of Annihilation Aims For A Western Audience

The Central Concept Of Arthurian Myths And Knights

Eclipse Glow Games, despite being based in China, chose a Western setting for Tides of Annihilation following the expectations set by their financial backer, Tencent. The 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 of knights, evolving into the iconic King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Set in a post-apocalyptic modern-day London, ravaged by an Outworld invasion, the game follows the heroine Gwendolyn, who appears to be the city's sole human survivor. While rooted in a contemporary setting, Tides of Annihilation will also feature fantasy elements inspired by Arthurian myths.

Devil May Cry-inspired Combat And Over 30 Bosses

Action-RPG enthusiasts will notice that Tides of Annihilation's combat system draws heavily from the iconic Devil May Cry series. The developers confirmed this influence, stating, "It's definitely more like Devil May Cry," but added that the game includes a difficulty selection feature to cater to a broader audience. The controls are designed to be accessible, allowing players of varying skill levels to enjoy the game.

Players can customize their combat style with four weapons and over ten Knights to choose from as sidekicks. Gwendolyn discovers her ability to command the legendary Knights of the Round Table, who join her in her quest through the ruins of London to uncover the mystery behind the invasion. With over 30 bosses, each boasting unique abilities, players are in for a challenging and engaging gameplay experience. "Players will have to prepare for very challenging boss fights," the developers emphasized.

Plans Of Creating An Anthology

Eclipse Glow Games also expressed their interest in expanding Tides of Annihilation into an anthology, exploring different settings and mythologies with new protagonists. They plan to retain the core concept of the Outworld invasion across future titles. "But we would still want to use the Outworld invasion concept that we're using for Tides of Annihilation," they stated, hoping that the success of the first game will pave the way for more titles and mythologies to come to life.

Currently in its beta phase, Tides of Annihilation is slated for a tentative launch in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players will follow Gwendolyn as she battles her fate and strives to save not only London but also the mystical realm of Avalon, which appears to be intertwining with the real world.