Exclusive Release: Creator of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Announces New Game, Skipping Steam for Epic Games Store

The Summer Game Fest served as the ideal stage for unveiling one of the most enigmatic and anticipated projects in the gaming industry, with the creative minds behind timeless classics such as Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian finally revealing their latest masterpiece. This highly-anticipated game is titled gen Atlas, a single-player open-world adventure and action game that invites players to delve into the depths of an entirely abandoned planet teeming with ancient secrets.

The plot and setting of this title immerse players in a profoundly lonely atmosphere, as they awaken in a remote world with no understanding of their journey or the origin of the vast plains stretching out before them. Players will traverse abandoned industrial facilities, endless deserts, and a constantly changing sea, all while uncovering remnants of an ancient civilization that once ruled this silent landscape.

Development on this project has been slow, as its first hints date back to 2020 when GenDesign signed a publishing deal with Epic Games. This decision has sparked complaints from the gaming community due to the game not being available on Steam, which is the preferred platform for PC gamers.

The core of the gameplay will undergo a dramatic transformation when players encounter a colossal robot, a towering mechanical behemoth that not only clears pathways to previously unreachable zones but also reshapes our perception of the world. This marvel will awaken dormant relics of forgotten structures, setting them in motion after centuries of silence, and promises to rekindle the wonder and emotional depth that defined the developer’s earlier titles through the exploration of vast landscapes, interaction with abandoned technologies, and an atmosphere steeped in mystery.

While the announcement has sparked excitement among fans of the visionary creator and the gaming community at large, a significant point of contention has emerged: the game will be an exclusive release on the Epic Games Store, denying access to Steam, the platform that dominates the PC market. A user named Pirat_Nation expressed frustration on X, stating, “The game will be exclusive to the Epic Games Store, so it won’t launch on Steam. You can thank Tim Sweeney if the game sells like crap.” Another commenter echoed the sentiment, remarking, “‘Exclusively on Epic’, fine, so it doesn’t exist. Got it. Back to bed.”

In a statement, Fumito Ueda emphasized that this project aims to deliver moments of quiet awe and discovery, moving away from frenetic action to foster a deeper emotional connection with the environment. Although fans will need to exercise patience—no confirmed release date has been announced yet—the game is slated for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and, as previously mentioned, PC via the Epic Games Store.