For its next trick, Quantic Dream tries to compete with League of Legends and Dota

It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard much about Quantic Dream. Star Wars: Eclipse. The studio revealed that project at The Game Awards back in 2021 and details have been scarce since then. It turns out that the developer of Heavy Rain and Detroit: become human I had been working on a second game this entire time. It’s one where Quantic Dream ventures into completely new territory, because the studio is creating its first multiplayer game.

Spellcaster Chronicles It’s a MOBA 3 vs. 3 with a third-person perspective similar to Marvel Rivals. Each round lasts 25 minutes, and teams summon minions, fight to conquer territory, and gain victory by destroying their opponents’ lifestones. So far, typical MOBA. But Quantic Dream has a few tricks up its sleeve that it hopes will help make Spellcaster Chronicles stand out in a highly competitive live services market.

It is a magic-based MOBA with characters that have unique abilities, personalities, and backstories. Each of these wizards has the ability to fly at any time and for as long as they want. So you can freely take to the skies to get a panoramic view of the battlefield and help you make decisions about what to do next. You can also face enemies in the air.

In addition to attacks, support spells, and summoning armies with hundreds of creatures, players can use their magic to topple buildings and reinforce their defenses while altering the environment. There’s also character interaction, as you can cast spells on allies (including summoned creatures). A mage, for example, could add fire to a tankier teammate’s hammer, so there are synergies to be discovered. “Something we wanted to push is the sense of creativity,” game director Greg Diaconu told reporters ahead of the reveal.

Over time, you’ll be able to lead giant titans into battle that will change the game. Each player can summon one. Every time a Titan appears, it’s a situation where the entire opposing team must get to work, as these are powerful creatures that can completely change the course of a round.

“It was important for us to create a sense of spectacle,” Diaconu said. “Something that is as fun to watch as it is to play.”

It all seems pretty action-packed, but there’s an important strategic element at play. Spellcaster Chronicles also. Before entering a battle, you’ll select your spells and summons, including your Titan, so this is also a deck-building game. In the heat of the action, your team will have to decide when to push the map and try to expand your territory while capturing altars of power, totems that will grant you resources. Speaking of which, each spell has a limited number of uses, so resource management is also a factor.

Spellcaster Chronicles It’s a free game, but there are no pay-to-win worries here. In-game purchases will be purely cosmetic. Expect battle passes full of new character skins. There are also many updates in the works, including new wizards, spells, and creatures.

Seven years in the oven

Quantic Dream began manufacturing Spellcaster Chronicles seven years ago (i.e. before Netease bought a stake in the company and eventually the whole thing). Although the studio decided to continue creating narrative single-player games after Detroit: become humanI also wanted to try something new. The idea was to bring the team’s experience working on interactive storytelling to a different genre by creating a multiplayer game with a stylized look.

“Several teams are completely dedicated to creating the next generation of great games, including something very different, a competitive multiplayer experience, born from the same spirit of curiosity and creativity that has always defined us,” wrote Quantic Dream founder David Cage in a blog post on Thursday. “This new title may surprise our fans as it is very different from what we have done until now. But taking risks, challenging ourselves, exploring new ways of playing and telling stories and attempting the seemingly impossible, has always been part of our DNA.”

in the world of Spellcaster ChroniclesThe gods no longer exist and wizards who are able to harness an energy called Source will shape the future. Quantic Dream hasn’t shared too many details about the plot and characters of Spellcaster Chronicles For now, the reveal focused on the gameplay. Perhaps this is partly because the studio is leaning towards a community-driven narrative approach. Victories and losses will contribute “to the evolution of the Tapestry of Destiny, where seasonal decisions will change the map’s gameplay, lore, and meta.”

We shouldn’t have to wait too long to see how all that works in practice. Quantic Dream will run a closed beta during Spellcaster Chronicles in Steam later this year, and the game will arrive on consoles with cross-play support in 2026. Those attending TwitchCon San Diego this week can try out the MOBA there.