Ara: History Untold News

Hey there, Ara fans!

In case you missed it, we released an exhilarating Dev Q&A episode yesterday with GamerZahk and Marc Meyer, President of Oxide Games! We tackled a plethora of questions from our fantastic community, so let's dive right in!

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Marc kicked off the discussion with updates on Ara's development progress. The team at Oxide Games is firing on all cylinders, polishing every aspect of Ara to ensure an unforgettable gaming experience. From refining water physics to enhancing performance, rest assured, Ara is shaping up to be something truly special.

Next, we delved into the intricacies of Ara's Leaders, unveiling the attribute system that defines their personalities and strategies. Each leader boasts 3 or 4 minor traits alongside a unique Feature, offering a diverse range of benefits and challenges for players to navigate. Whether harnessing the power of the Charismatic trait to bolster your Nation’s Trade or grappling with the hindrance of traits like Aloof, the dynamic interplay of traits promises to shape each player's journey uniquely.

In response to player inquiries, we're excited to announce that Ara will feature multiple difficulty options for AI opponents! As the difficulty scales up, prepare to face increasingly aggressive leaders and smarter long-term strategies, ensuring a dynamic gameplay experience for veterans and newcomers alike.

Shifting gears, we addressed community feedback regarding Ara's starting locations. Marc clarified the team's decision to start with your new settlement, highlighting the importance of jumping-starting players into the heart of Ara's vibrant world. The rationale behind this decision lies in the exponential growth of Nations, compelling players to hit the ground running to keep pace with the competition. Founding your first city early on becomes paramount, setting the stage for an exhilarating journey of expansion and conquest.



We wrapped up with heartfelt messages from Marc to the Ara community, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support and excitement for what's to come. With Ara's Insider Program continually evolving and updates on the horizon, there's plenty to look forward to as we journey toward launch later this year!

You can watch the full video on our YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe for future content! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to answer them in the next episode!

Until next time, happy gaming!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Grab your compass and hunting spears because we’re talking about the scouts of Ara: History Untold! In our latest Dev Diary, we sat down with Community and Marketing Manager Andy Cataldo to learn more about Ara’s starting unit and how they function in the first few rounds of gameplay.

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At the onset of your journey, you're equipped with a single scout, with the option to craft additional scout staves using gathered resources. These units are essential for uncovering new resources, tackling dangerous predators, and collecting hidden caches scattered throughout Ara's expansive Living World.



Hunting dangerous wildlife not only provides your nation with fur and resources, but it also clears the zone, allowing you to construct a new improvement once you’ve claimed the region. Each animal type has its own difficulty level and may result in a scout’s injury if they attempt to hunt it! Injured scouts can seek refuge within your cities for full recovery or, in dire circumstances, they can rest in the wild to regain partial health.



Another primary task for the scout is revealing hidden resources that can significantly advance your Nation once harvested. Revealing a resource like Iron or Copper is a fantastic discovery, but be warned! Once you reveal a resource, other players will be able to see it, and it soon becomes a race to see who can claim the area first!



Don’t forget the caches! Found near ancient ruins, these hidden troves offer the reward of resources, equipment, or treasure to the player who can claim them first. If your nation survives the Act Transition, be sure to seek out fallen Nations for their caches as soon as possible—it's a goldmine waiting to be plundered!



The significance of environmental factors cannot be understated in Ara. Starting in a desert or dry biome necessitates sending scouts to seek out vital resources like jungles and rivers to ensure your nation's prosperity. However, amidst the wilderness lies the lurking threat of barbarians, roaming bands that pose a formidable challenge to scouts venturing into the unknown.

For more info on scouts, be sure to check out the full video on our YouTube channel and let us know what topics you want covered in future episodes!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Greetings, fellow strategists!

The moment you've all been waiting for has finally arrived – Ara's first-ever Dev Q&A is here! Gather 'round as GamerZakh and Design Director Michelle Menard answer your burning questions about localization, gameplay mechanics, and more!

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Ever wondered about Ara's expansive map size? Michelle explains how the map can dynamically adjust based on the number of nations, ensuring each player has ample space to thrive while fostering proximity for strategic interactions like trade and combat.

And hold onto your hats – we're talking launch platforms! Oxide Games is laser-focused on delivering a top-notch PC-first experience, with Ara slated for Windows, Steam, and PC Gamepass later this year. Plans for Xbox consoles will be revealed post-launch!



Curious about Ara's simultaneous turns? Michelle shares some of the inspiration that came from classic board games like Diplomacy and explains how the turn structure works in-game. Allowing Nations to plot their moves simultaneously removes some of the advantages commonly seen in turn-based strategy, and ensures each player focuses on out-witting their opponents turn after turn.

Last but certainly not least, let's talk languages! We're thrilled to announce that Ara: History Untold will support a whopping 25 languages at launch, including German, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Italian, and many more!

Got more questions about Ara? Drop 'em in the comments below, and we'll do our best to answer them in our next episode!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Grab your brushes, because today we’re talking about the Art of Ara!

In last week’s Dev Diary episode, we were honored to welcome back Dorian Newcomb, the Art Director at Oxide Games, to guide us through the mesmerizing realm of Ara's artistry. Dorian and Steven engaged in a deep conversation on Ara’s Leaders, UI, and the immersive Living World.

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In this episode Dorian takes us behind the scenes, revealing the inspirations for Ara's Art and Leader design. The team set out to reimagine these iconic historical figures reawakened as animated illustrations, capturing them at the height of their power. Concept artist Steve Langmeade created the initial designs, and the team had access to hundreds of historical references through ancient sculptures and other works of art.



Ara's diverse nations were the next focus, with the team aiming to make each one feel recognizable and unique. The team focused on capturing key structures from each civilization and allowing players to create their own quilt of a Nation with iconic architecture. Buildable Improvements, such as Farms and Workshops, use unique structures, aiding players in identifying which buildings they’ll be interacting with.



Dorian shared the fascinating journey of creating art for a game of Ara's magnitude. A collaborative effort between several artists, all working on different aspects of Ara’s Living World. Some elements click instantly, while others undergo months of refinement. Lighting emerged as a crucial element, serving as the connective tissue that binds all the pieces into one cohesive world. The team's tireless work over the past year has made Ara's Living World feel vibrant, alive, and seamlessly interconnected!

Ready to immerse yourself in the artistry of Ara? Head over to our YouTube channel for the full video. And, as always, let us know which topics you'd love to see in upcoming episodes!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Hey there, Ara fans!

In case you missed it, Ara: History Untold was featured in the Xbox Developer Direct earlier this month, where we unveiled some never-before-seen footage and concept art from the game!

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To kick things off, we got a brand-new look at the Living World: a procedurally generated alternate Earth that dynamically reflects your in-game choices. It's not just a map; it's a vibrant tapestry where thousands of Citizens react to the changes you make over the course of the game.



We also learned more about Ara’s Prestige system, offering you the flexibility to shape your leadership style. In Ara, there are no set victory conditions, allowing you to pursue individual goals while still being able to win the game. Players can earn Prestige through cultural and scientific achievements, building Triumphs, or emerging victorious in war.



Engage with Ara’s Crafting System, a unique challenge rarely seen in the 4X genre. Crafting unfolds at a National scale, where players refine and combine harvested natural resources into various goods and components. Use these to construct Triumphs or enhance your citizens with strategic buffs!



Meet Leaders from diverse backgrounds in Ara. Beyond the usual military and government figures, philosophical, scientific, and cultural prodigies add depth to your choices. Each Leader in Ara has a number of special abilities determined by their personality traits, as well as a powerful and unique Leader trait informed by their contributions to world history.



You can check out the full video on our YouTube channel for exclusive in-game footage, and be sure to join our Insider Program for the latest updates. Your journey in Ara awaits!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/