Ara: History Untold News

Last week we debuted a brand new dev diary for Ara: History Untold! Come explore Ara's complex government system with GamerZakh and Gabriela Leskur as they discuss how it affects long-term planning, trade, conflict, and the pursuit of prestige.

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Gabriela explained that players start with a fundamental form of governance known as a chiefdom, which offers the framework required for early development, including overseeing several cities and feeding an expanding populace. Research will allow you to unlock increasingly complex systems of government as your civilization develops, reflecting the philosophical and historical developments of different nations.



There are many different kinds of governments in Ara, and each offers its own advantages and policies to your citizens. Gabriela gave examples like Theocracy, which provides substantial religious buffs, and Empire, which permits extensive city control and economic benefits. Every type of government affects a player's strategy in different ways by offering different tax levels, imposing city limits, and providing intrinsic bonuses.



Moreover, the traits of leaders in Ara can synergize with specific government types. For instance, leaders with the Independent trait have higher populations in their non-capital cities, making them well-suited for governments that favor widespread territorial control.

We also touched on narrative events that tie into government choices, revealing how citizens may react to tax adjustments and other changes. Government improvements play a crucial role too, with options ranging from City Halls to Water Treatment Facilities, each providing unique buffs when strategically placed within your city’s central region.



For players looking to maximize their government impact early on, Gabriela suggested researching new governments that increase city caps and tweaking policies to suit their evolving needs. Some governments like Theocracy can be accessed early on and provide substantial bonuses for those aiming to expand their religious influence.

For more info on Ara’s government system, be sure to watch the full episode on our YouTube channel. Don't forget to subscribe for more content, join our Insider Program, and wishlist Ara: History Untold ahead of its release on September 24th, 2024!

Stay tuned for more insights, and thank you for being part of our journey!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Great news, Ara fans!

Earlier this week, we released a brand new Dev Diary episode and it’s packed with fascinating insights on Ara’s development! In this episode we sat down with Grace Rojas, Narrative Designer and Historian on Ara, to discuss the historical research process behind the game.

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At the top of the episode we provided a sneak preview of a new series kicking off later this week, focused on the Encarta, Ara’s in-game encyclopedia. This series will showcase the historical inspiration behind various game elements, including leaders, triumphs, and masterpieces, while also giving you tips and tricks for using them in-game.



Grace explained how the team went about the research process, detailing how they chose which time periods and technologies to include across Ara’s three major acts. The team aimed for a balance between historical accuracy and gameplay, acknowledging that once players engage with tech choices, they create their own alternative history. Leader selection was also a meticulous process, with the team wanting to spotlight underrepresented figures like Benito Juarez, Sappho, and Sejong the Great. Each leader's traits and abilities are rooted in their historical actions and personalities, influencing their strategies and behaviors in-game.



The creation of the Encarta was a significant challenge, balancing detailed historical content with accessibility for players. Grace highlighted the importance of capturing players' interest in history through unique cultural interactions and narrative events. We hope that the historical content in Ara will inspire players to learn more about history and encourage curiosity about new subjects and nations!

For our more insightful players, Ara includes several hidden historical Easter eggs and references to discover, adding an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the experience. These subtle details, discovered during the research process, contribute to Ara's living world and historical richness.

Don't miss out on this insightful Dev Diary! Be sure to watch the full video on our YouTube channel and check out the rest of the Encarta series!

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

Xbox has officially announced that it's not only going to have presence at this year's Gamescom, but will be assembling its "biggest booth yet", while PlayStation and Nintendo have both confirmed they're giving the show a miss.

Yep, just one of the big three is planning to rock up in Cologne, meaning that there'll be absolutely no console wars-esque discourse the entire time the show is on. Surely, right? Okay, so definitely not, but at least there won't be any photos of Xbox and PlayStation logos facing each other like they're the flags of two sides engaged in of some kind of dramatic ancient conflict, rather than the occasional bout of corporate handbags.

"The Xbox team is heading BACK to Gamescom," the console maker has just announced via a Tweet, adding: "Visit us at our biggest booth yet August 21-25!" Hey, at least there was enough restraint shown that the tweet didn't contain the exact dimensions of this big booth, followed up by the line 'see, we weren't kidding, it's bigger than your dad's shed'.

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Hey, Ara fans!

Last week, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Satch Puri, our Director of Production, for a brand new Dev Q&A session to answer more of your burning questions about Ara: History Untold!

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One of the hot topics we covered was Nation Culling. Many fans have been rightly curious about this feature, and Satch provided some clarity. Players will indeed have the option to turn off Nation Culling when setting up their game, allowing all Nations to survive the Act Transition if they wish, offering a more flexible and personalized gameplay experience.



We also explored the ocean mechanics of Ara, which offer exciting new ways for your nation to dominate the seas. Oceans are not barriers in Ara, but avenues for exploration, trade, and naval defense. Players can create naval units to defend their trade routes, and certain ships are even able to attack land units and improvements, expanding your strategic options in times of war.



A significant highlight was the discussion on Ara’s AI Leaders. We’re thrilled about the feedback we've received and can't wait for players to experience the AI's unique decision-making process. The Leaders in Ara operates with two modes of thought: one focused on long-term goals and another handling mundane, everyday actions, much like a human would. This dual approach promises to deliver a more dynamic and realistic gameplay experience turn after turn.

For those eager to get hands-on with the game before launch, we have exciting news! We’ve just announced Technical Alpha 3 and it’s coming soon to Insiders! Join our Insider Program by visiting AraHistoryUntold.com and filling out the required information.

For more information check out the full video on our YouTube channel. If you have any questions about Ara, feel free to leave them in the comments—we'll do our best to answer them in the next episode!

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

We’re back with a brand-new Dev Diary! Join GamerZakh and Oxide Games’ Gabriela Leskur as they look inside Ara’s fascinating Narrative Event system. This system introduces new events that challenge players to make pivotal decisions as they take on the role of leading a new nation.

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Narrative Events present players with multiple choices that can greatly impact the trajectory of their nation, including relationships with other leaders, prestige boosts, equipment, and other varied outcomes. Gabriela explained how the team drew inspiration from real historical scenarios and designed the events to reflect complex decisions faced by leaders throughout history.



These events come from various sources, such as tribes you encounter, other nations you meet, and citizens from your own nation. Act Goals, a specific type of event, involve nations in friendly competition to see who can build a Triumph first, resulting in a significant boost to their prestige.



The choices presented during these events may often require specific materials or goods to be fulfilled. These resources can either be produced within your nation or discovered in caches scattered throughout the wild. As the game progresses, events will evolve in accordance with the Act structure, with later events demanding more advanced technologies or goods.

For more info on Ara’s dynamic Narrative Event system, be sure to check out the full video on our YouTube channel. We can't wait for players to experience the intricacies of the Narrative Event system when Ara releases later this year!

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