Featured Image Credit: Digital Extremes
Topics: Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Studio Ghibli is more than equipped to make a video game. Before you start telling me that they have made a game, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch doesn’t count. They may have animated the title, but creative control lay with Level-5.
Unfortunately, an official Studio Ghibli game still isn’t on the cards but we may be getting the next best thing. Digital Extremes have announced their next title Soulframe which is said to be inspired by the Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke, as well as the works of Hayao Miyazaki more generally.
Check out the first cinematic trailer for Soulframe below to see these influences in action. Warning: There is also a lot of butt.
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Soulframe is the next free-to-play multiplayer title from Warframe developers Digital Extremes and the game is said to be visually inspired by several Studio Ghibli projects, as well as the 1984 film The NeverEnding Story. The Princess Mononoke influences are abundantly evident in the trailer.
In a press release, creative director Geoff Crookes explained, “With Soulframe’s worldbuilding and thematic elements, we are really looking to go back to our childhood favourites like NeverEnding Story and those elaborate fantasy worlds.” He added, “Our team has a fond love for Miyazaki and Princess Mononoke where there is this idea of nature and humanity colliding and we’ll be exploring a lot of themes around nature, restoration, and exploration in this new title.”
Soulframe doesn’t have an anticipated release window at this point in time but players can register their interest online, although you will have to solve a fun little puzzle first. Once the puzzle has been unlocked, players will be able to “declare their envoy” and reserve an in-game character name ahead of Soulframe’s release. As a huge Studio Ghibli fan, I’m definitely excited to see how development pans out on this project.