The spiritual successor to Ultima Underworld has finally gotten a new trailer and some updated release information. Immersive sim/RPG Underworld Ascendant’s Kickstarter was successfully funded back in 2015 and other than several periodic updates, the game’s development has flown relatively under the radar.
“The action RPG designed to maximize player choice in a breathtaking fantasy realm, rife with danger and full of intrigue,” Underworld Ascendant‘s website says. The game’s team of developers are mainly veterans of the original Ultima team whose focus is “innovating upon the series’ signature player-authored gameplay in bold new ways.”
The new trailer was released at PAX South, and highlights developer Otherside Entertainment’s most recent progress. “A lot of modern adventure games have gone in the direction of really trying to script tighter and tighter moments, that everything is very carefully crafted,” lead designer Tim Stellmach says during the video, describing how Underworld Ascendant will be a departure from most modern RPGs. “You [players] have your own ideas about the kind of experience you want to have, and our goal is to allow you to do that—to put together a system where all of you, with all your different answers to the questions, are all right.” You can watch the full video below:
Underworld Ascendant is currently expected to release in the second half of 2018. The full website, with additional updates and information, can be found here.