Fumito Ueda, the creator of Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian, revealed his next sci-fi project at tonight’s Summer Game Fest – the first big information drop we’ve seen about the game since its reveal back at The Game Awards 2024.
Developed by Ueda’s team at genDESIGN (which also features many other developers that worked with Ueda at Japan Studio), the game is billed as a single-player, open-world, action-adventure, and it’s coming to the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The Epic Games Store exclusivity, it must be noted, is in place because the title will be published by Epic itself. There was no release date, nor release window, shared during the presentation.
“Without knowing why, you awaken on an abandoned planet,” reads a press release for the game. “Before you lies a vast, silent world. Colossal structures stretch over endless plains, deserted facilities, and an ever-changing sea. The remnants of some grand design litter the planet’s surface.
“As you journey deeper into this strange world, a colossal robot awaits. Its overwhelming power opens paths to places once beyond reach, transforming your conception of the world. Across an endless expanse of time, the remnants of those forgotten constructs begin to move once more…”
So far, so creepy. You can catch the trailer for the game above, and you won’t be surprised to see it thrumming with quiet, melancholic beauty – something we’ve come to execpt from Ueda over the course of his career.
“The team and I are grateful to all the fans who’ve been eager to learn more about our game,” says Ueda, CEO and creative director of genDESIGN. “Their passion and enthusiasm has always motivated and inspired us. We hope to share an experience that inspires moments of quiet wonder and discovery.”
It’s been 10 whole years since Ueda’s last game, the gorgeous-but-slightly-contentious The Last Guardian on PS4. No longer working under Sony, Ueda and “core staff” at genDESIGN “who led the development of Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian” have been independent since the reveal of the company in 2024. “As innovators in the games industry, genDESIGN is committed to creating with uncompromised vision and passion,” notes a press release. “Amidst a competitive worldwide landscape, we continually strive to create original games that push boundaries and stand out on a global scale.”
