Publisher 663 Games and developer Leap Studio have announced a new Early Access Roadmap and release window for the highly anticipated action roquelite Realm of Ink. Following recent closed playtests and community feedback, 663 Games and Leap Studio have made the decision to extend the current development milestone and move the Early Access launch to Q3 2024. This new date will allow the team to implement additional content and enhancements, which will, in turn, deliver a deeper gameplay experience.
‘We made a commitment to our community and fans that their first taste of the Early Access launch of Realm of Ink would be a beautiful experience’ said Dai, CEO of Leap Studio. ‘While the version we were working on was content-rich and stable, we knew that we wanted to offer more and make good on this commitment. By moving the Early Access release window to Q3, we can ensure that all the great content we promised will be implemented and most importantly offer a deep and thrilling gameplay experience.’
With the Early Access launch moving to Q3, fans can still get some hands-on time with Realm of Ink, as an updated version of the playable demo is going live on Steam today. Building on the already robust gameplay content, the Steam demo now offers new areas, bosses and much more for players to immerse themselves in. The updated demo can be downloaded from Steam today, and fans can still add the game to their Wishlists.
More details on the exact release date for the Realm of Ink Early Access version will be announced soon. In the meantime, check out this brand-new gameplay trailer with never-before-seen footage and new content information!
About Realm of Ink
During the hunt for a cunning Fox demon, the heroine and expert swordswoman Red, discovers that she is a fictional character in the short story collection Realm of Ink. Only by unlocking the dark secrets of the Book Spirit will Red discover the truth of her existence and defy her fate.
The story unfolds in a virtual realm called "Realm of Ink" where inhabitants unknowingly exist as mere fabrications within a fictional world. Controlled by the mysterious Book Spirit, they obediently follow predetermined fates, oblivious to their cyclical lives.
In the Realm of Ink, the puppets awaken - Begin your journey as the swordswoman Red, gradually unlocking additional characters as you progress. Utilizing the Fox Demons' immortal power, traverse treacherous 'Story Relics' and confront four bosses with unique backgrounds to escape from the ever-changing Realm of Ink. By surmounting the various challenges and obstacles ahead, you will redefine your 'destiny' through the constant cycle of rebirth, wielding your sword with resilience.
Exquisite Ink-style Art - From the verdant Buddhist forests, the frigid enchanted Monkey Kingdom, and the gentle yet terrifying waterland to the ancient and reverent ruins of Mausoleum, the four major levels each have a guardian, and their mysterious pasts await your exploration. Wielding a sword, venture alone through the dim world and overcome formidable foes. Explore and conquer over 20 creatures with distinctive Chinese characteristics, including the Fox Demon, Peony Fairy, and Mirror Sprite. Each of them comes with a unique backstory.
Fierce battles with infinite creativity - Embark on thrilling battles and explore diverse combinations to craft your unique combat style. Choose from 3 playable characters: Unparalleled Swordswoman Red, Nightmare Hunter Wang Ding, and Fox Judge Ning Ye; and equip yourself with 9 powerful weapons, including the Scarlet Sword and the Shadow Twin Blades. Further enhance your abilities with over 20 distinctive Ink Gems such as the Tiger Ink, Venom Ink and Curse Ink and discover a vast array of over 120 Artefacts including the Shadow Kite, the Lamp of Seven Stars and the Doom Gauge.
Various combinations and builds - Ink Gems have assorted appearances, and they will reinforce one another. Use them to explore diverse builds of martial arts schools and master powerful skills of Yin and Yang to defeat enemies with a single strike.
Discover rare magical treasures - Hundreds of rare magical treasures trigger various unique effects and provide distinctive attribute bonuses, empowering your martial arts schools and allowing you to effortlessly defeat all enemies! You can also engage in long-term character development outside of combat and unlock new combinations of moves and combat styles. With a dual-cycle system inside and outside combat, you'll have a fresh experience every time!
A journey into the unknown, composed of distinctive stages - Explore a variety of battle stages and routes where you can collect Ink Relics, fortune and magical treasure as well as duels with bosses. In this exhilarating journey into the unknown, you will enter various stages and encounter a diverse cast of NPCs, making the entire journey full of surprises!
Fight alongside your intimate Ink Pets - Mysterious in origin and adorable in appearance, the Ink Pets will be your companions. As the Ink Gems level up, your Ink Pets will also undergo a transformation, becoming more powerful to fight alongside you!
Realm of Ink will be released for PC via Steam Early Access in Q3 2024. Console versions will release later.