Preview

Fatekeeper, an Elder Scrolls-esque RPG with Vast Build Options, Announced

TL;DR (2-3 Sentence Summary)
The new open-world RPG 'Fatekeeper' is set to launch on PC on June 3rd. Set in a dark fantasy world created by sacrificing souls and holding secrets of a fallen civilization, players will explore ruins ravaged by an ancient cataclysm as both warriors and mages. The game world features meticulously handcrafted locations to enhance exploration density, where players can collect weapons, armor, and artifacts to develop their characters. Furthermore, the narrative will change based on player choices, with diverse regions such as past battlefields and forgotten sanctuaries awaiting exploration.
페이트키퍼 대표 이미지 (사진출처: THQ 노르딕 공식 홈페이지)
▲ The key art for Fatekeeper (Image courtesy of THQ Nordic's official website)

The open-world RPG, Fatekeeper, is set to launch on PC on June 3rd. This title plunges players into a dark fantasy world, a realm born from sacrificed souls, holding secrets of a fallen civilisation. As both a warrior and a mage, you'll explore the ruins left behind by an ancient cataclysm.

The game's world is meticulously handcrafted, with every location designed to maximise exploration density. Within this world, players can collect weapons, armour, and relics to develop their characters. Furthermore, your narrative will shift based on the choices you make, and a variety of areas, from the harrowing battlefields of the past to forgotten sanctuaries, await your footsteps.

▲ The Fatekeeper trailer (Video courtesy of THQ Nordic's official YouTube channel)

Forge Your Own Path: A Liberated Dark Fantasy

While Fatekeeper does follow a set narrative initially, once you're past the early stages, you're free to roam the entire map without restriction. Hidden stories and relics are scattered across vast underground caverns, serene forests, and ancient ruins, with the emphasis firmly placed on the joy of discovering them one by one.

To overcome the common pitfall of sparse open-world design, every area has been crafted with a distinct purpose. You'll often uncover unexpected items by meticulously searching the surrounding terrain and any available storage spaces, constantly fuelling your curiosity.


곳곳에 숨겨진 다양한 요소로 탐험의 재미를 끌어올렸다 (사진출처: THQ 노르딕 공식 유튜브 채널 갈무리)
▲ Exploration is enhanced by various hidden elements scattered throughout (Image courtesy of THQ Nordic's official YouTube channel)

The primary region for your adventures is 'Solas,' an archipelago situated in the middle of a vast ocean. It boasts a stunning landscape where deep northern coniferous forests and glacial valleys meet fierce rivers and snow-capped, colossal mountains. There's also 'Haven,' a hub where players can rest. This cosy sanctuary, built from wood and stone, allows for everyday activities like weapon maintenance and drying herbs. Alchemy lets you craft potions and bombs, among other items useful for exploration.

As you journey through this world, you'll encounter various factions. One such group is the 'Subterranean Dwellers,' who fled underground to escape a tyrant, only to become isolated when their escape routes were sealed. They developed a highly advanced society over centuries by mastering metal and rock, but an accidental excavation reconnected them to the surface. This led to a schism between those captivated by the beautiful natural environment and those who clung to their old ways, resulting in the formation of distinct new civilisations.


모험이 펼쳐지는 주요 배경 '솔라스' (사진출처: 스팀)
▲ From the main adventure setting, 'Solas' (Image courtesy of Steam)


▲ The resting hub, 'Haven' (Image courtesy of Steam)


지하 거주자들의 거대한 도시 등 다양한 지역이 플레이어를 기다리고 있다 (사진출처: 스팀)
▲ A vast city built by the Subterranean Dwellers and other diverse regions await players (Image courtesy of Steam)

First-Person Combat Fusing Magic and Steel

Combat unfolds from a first-person perspective, employing a hybrid system that blends melee strikes with magic. You can wield a variety of melee weapons, including swords, axes, and hammers, and the game features highly realistic physics, such as dismemberment based on where and how you strike an enemy.

타격 방식에 따라 적 반응이 달라지고 (사진출처: THQ 노르딕 공식 유튜브 채널)
▲ Enemy reactions vary depending on the type of attack (Image courtesy of THQ Nordic's official YouTube channel)


독약을 바르면 그에 맞는 시각 효과가 지속 시간이 끝날때까지 남아 있다 (사진출처: THQ 노르딕 공식 유튜브 채널 갈무리)
▲ Poison applied to a weapon will have visual effects that last until the duration expires (Image courtesy of THQ Nordic's official YouTube channel)

Simultaneously, magic allows for tactical combat, enabling you to push enemies away or pull them towards you. You can also leverage your surroundings, perhaps by magically throwing nearby objects to inflict damage, thereby gaining an advantage in battle. Each enemy possesses unique behaviour patterns and weaknesses, demanding flexible adaptation and strategic adjustments to the situation.

마법으로 물건을 주워 투척하거나 (사진출처: THQ 노르딕 공식 유튜브 채널 갈무리)
▲ You can even pick up and throw objects with magic (Image courtesy of THQ Nordic's official YouTube channel)


▲ And yes, you can even throw enemies themselves (Image courtesy of THQ Nordic's official YouTube channel)

The threats you'll face are incredibly diverse, ranging from monstrous husks who have lost their minds and systematically trained soldiers to colossal beasts. Powerful magic-wielding foes are also scattered throughout the land, so thorough preparation is essential if you wish to survive the intense combat.



각기 다른 콘셉트와 능력을 지닌 적 (사진출처: 스팀)
▲ Enemies with distinct concepts and abilities (Image courtesy of Steam)

Craft Your Unique Character Build with an Expansive Skill Tree

One of Fatekeeper's most significant strengths lies in its high degree of character build freedom. Beyond basic equipment like weapons, armour, and relics, a vast skill tree allows your combat style to change entirely depending on how you progress. This enables you to implement playstyles suited to your preferences, such as a mage, warrior, or alchemist, and even conceive original builds that maximise survivability or specialise in the use of consumable items.

For example, you could opt for an efficient combat style where you freeze enemies with attacks that deal reduced damage, only to shatter them with a blunt weapon. Alternatively, you could develop a pyromancer build by enhancing fire damage and spell-casting speed, making projectiles ricochet for a burst of firepower in a short time.

Furthermore, if you construct a nimble build centred around daggers as your primary weapon, your evasion ability might transform into a leaping strike, and you'll unlock skills that allow your thrown daggers to return like boomerangs. You can also implement a build that sustains enhancement effects indefinitely by increasing alchemy efficiency and consumable item duration, while also granting a chance for items not to be consumed upon use.

페이트키퍼의 가장 큰 장점인 방대한 스킬트리 (사진출처: 스팀)

▲ Create your own build with the vast skill tree (Image courtesy of Steam)
This news was translated by AI.