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Ara: History Untold News

Ara: History Untold Developer Diary - Art Overview with Dorian Newcomb

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.

[previewyoutube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo31IW0CWPI[/previewyoutube]

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 Concept artist Steve Langmeade created the initial designs, and the team had access to hundreds of historical references through ancient sculptures and other works of art.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/

Xbox Developer Direct Recap

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!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

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/

Ara: History Untold intends to change how you play grand strategy games this fall

During Xbox Developer Direct, Oxide Games gave us a new look at Ara: History Untold gameplay and shared an overview of the key features coming to the historical grand strategy title.

The overview also touched upon the game’s crafting system, approach to simultaneous turns, and more.

Tasked with building a nation, as a ruler, you are charged with leading your people from the dawn of society into one of great achievement by exploring new lands, cultivating arts and culture, working on diplomacy, and going head-to-head with rivals.

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Everything announced at today's Xbox Developer Direct 2024

Today's Xbox Developer Direct stream offered updates on some of 2024's biggest Microsoft games, including MachineGames' Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, Obsidian's Avowed and Ninja Theory's Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. If you missed the stream and want a quick roundup of all the news, games, release dates and trailers featured, we've gathered it all together in this post.


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All today's Xbox Developer Direct 2024 streams in one place

Today's the day of Xbox Developer Direct 2024, a select showcase of forthcoming Microsoft-published games, from sorcerous RPGs to intricate strategy games, which begins at 12pm PT, 3pm ET and 8pm UK. Wait, stop! Come back here, you silly goose. You don't need to go anywhere. I've embedded the livestream below, together with the key things you need to know about the games in question.


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