A while back, Hyper Light Drifter developer Heart Machine unveiled it’s next big thing – Solar Ash Kingdom. It was announced for PS4 and PC but seemingly delayed. Now it seems the reason is revealed – the game is now called Solar Ash and will also be coming to PS5 next year. Check out the newest trailer below.
Studio head Alex Preston spoke more about the game’s overall theme on the PlayStation Blog. While Hyper Light Drifter was more of a personal story, reflecting the struggles that Preston was facing, Solar Ash is about “reflection and progress in many ways. Our ambitions are bigger and the team has grown to match. The story still remains personal, but evolves to be something beyond just the weight of the struggle into something more hopeful.”
The story’s crux is the Ultravoid, a space rift that’s consuming entire worlds. The player will travel through it and encounter a mix of trippy yet dangerous spaces. Gameplay is about navigating the rift at high speeds and battling the monsters within. You’ll encounter other souls lost to the void and find some kind of solace in the void. Heart Machine has been “working tirelessly over the years, building incredible tech to help realize this fantastic world.
“After releasing Hyper Light Drifter, I wanted to dive into a bigger, grander world, opening up possibilities with far more powerful tools.”
Developing for PS5 is beneficial thanks to the solid state drive and the DualSense which can “provide feedback in the controller we had not known was possible. Power is all well and good, but the most exciting part is the suite of tools for more direct engagement with our audience.” More details about Solar Ash will be revealed in the coming months so stay tuned.