Ara: History Untold News

Ara: History Untold Dev Q&A Episode 1

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/

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.

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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/

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!

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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/

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.

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.