The fantasy hack-and-slash title is making full use of NVIDIA’s tech, specifically Advanced Path Tracing and DLSS 4.5 to breathe life into the story it’s trying to tell, and the results are quite lovely. A warm glow embraces the environments where the light manages to shine through, stained glass windows reflecting their designs off stone floors, while some brilliant particle effects punctuate some of your character’s fanciest moves.

For those of you unfamiliar with this one, it places you in the shoes of Gwendolyn, who must navigate a dystopian fantasy version of London in the wake of a rather nasty invasion by Avalon, a mythical world set on domination wherever it goes. She does so in hopes of finding the Holy Grail, which she must use to save her sister and the world at large, repelling the invasion in the process. With some excellent graphics and solid gameplay backing up the story, we’re quite excited for this one.

Sadly, the trailer didn’t come with a release date for this adventure from Eclipse Glow for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, but you should check it out below anyway for an impressive showcase of how its path tracing looks in action.

While we don’t really know any of the characters from the trailer, it does involve protagonist Gwendolyn trying desperately to get to the tube station in order to not miss her train. However, she ends up being just a few seconds too late and misses her train. Thankfully, the underground railway tunnels light up, and another train pulled by horses shows up at the station. When the doors open, Gwendolyn sees several characters, presumably a mix of friends and foes, who are all travelling alongside her. Once the train leaves, we also get to see another unfortunate soul who seemingly missed the train by a few seconds because they were busy pulling their heavy luggage.

Tides of Annihilation was unveiled during last year’s February State of Play showcase. It is being developed by a team of industry veterans that have previously worked on major franchises like Persona, For Honor, Assassin’s Creed and Yakuza, among others. Its story will be a new take on the Arthurian myth, with London serving as its main setting alongside the fantasy realm of Avalon.

Due to mysterious circumstances, Gwendolyn finds herself with epic powers, giving her control over the Knights of the Round Table. Using this, she sets off on a journey to halt the demon invasion of Earth, and in the process, hopefully rescue her sister.

The combat system, according to Eclipse Glow Games, will allow Gwendolyn to tap into her own capabilities as well as that of another knight in what it refers to as a “unique dual-knight fighting system”. The game’s levels have also been described as being “immense” thanks to the “gigantic knights roaming the city of London”.

More details were revealed courtesy of an extended gameplay trailer last year, giving us a look at its core combat and exploration mechanics. Combat will be fast-paced, with Gwendolyn having access to many stylish moves thanks to her command over the Knights of the Round Table, while exploration will be a blend of running around and platforming.

Back in November, we got to see another gameplay trailer, this time around showcasing a single boss fight – Tyronoe. While this foe has reality-bending abilities at her disposal, Gwendolyn can go toe-to-toe thanks to various additions to the Knights of the Round Table she commands, like Sir Lamorak.

Along with the trailer, lead producer Kun Fu also revealed that the action-adventure game takes inspiration from many action films, from Inception to The Matrix and Dr. Strange. The common thread between these movies is the fact that they all revolve around reality being altered in strange and fundamental ways as part of their main plots.

Tides of Annihilation is being developed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our thoughts on why it might end up becoming another breakout success like Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong.

Along with constructing barriers, she can retreat into a separate dimension called Mirror Space. Fortunately, one of the Knights of the Round Table, Sir Lamorak, joins Gwendolyn during the fight. Even as Tyronoe creates clones and manifests a massive fireball, Gwendolyn can break through with Lamroak’s spear.

In an Xbox Wire post, lead producer Kun Fu revealed Inception, The Matrix, and Dr Strange as influences for these reality-bending scenarios. He also confirmed that players can set up two sets of Spectral Knights to wield four at a time, thus allowing for different combos and techniques.

Like every other title revealed during the Partner Preview, Tides of Annihilation will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title. It’s still in “active development” for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, so stay tuned for more details in the future.

Surprisingly, Eclipse Glow Games’ Tides of Annihilation will also make its first appearance since last February with a new extended gameplay trailer. Jennifer English, who voices protagonist Gwendolyn, will also host the showcase.

Viewers can look forward to new game reveals, further fueling the likelihood of Silent Hill 2 remake being revealed for Xbox Series X/S. With the former reportedly launching on November 21st for the console, this may very well serve as a surprise announcement.

Also, as is usually the case, you can expect announcements of new Game Pass titles. Xbox Play Anywhere titles will receive notable focus, which means every title can be purchased on Xbox or PC and enjoyed on either (or the recently released Xbox Ally handhelds).

Sure, we didn’t see Fairgame$ or other live-service titles, and Housemarque unveiled its next project, Saros, but that’s coming in 2026. Yes, there were plenty of other titles – including the long-rumored Days Gone Remastered – but you can sympathize with those seeking exclusives.

On the bright side, if we have to focus on third-party titles, Tides of Annihilation offered a very nice surprise.

Developed by Eclipse Glow Games, it presented one of the cooler premises we’ve seen in a character-driven action game. Long story short, London is under attack by some mysterious Outworld force causing all sorts of havoc. Who else to venture into the ruins and fight back by Gwendolyn (voiced by Jennifer English, best known for Shadowheart from Baldur’s Gate 3) and King Arthur’s Knights of the Roundtable?

The twist is that the Knights aren’t exactly physically playable characters. Instead, they’re akin to the Spirits in Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights or, well, the Homunculi in Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist. Gwendolyn attacks with a sword revealed to be Niniane, who may or may not be the Lady of the Lake’s successor. However, she can call in the knights any time to follow up with their own attacks, chaining them together into combos.

You can unleash long-range damage with arrows that burst after a short period, deal a heavy blunt blow, ravage threats with ice magic or rush forward and pierce them. But that’s not all – based on the extensive new gameplay, each Knight has different contextual abilities. Hold down on the archer’s attack, and it will create a swirling dome of attacks that constantly damages enemies within.

If that wasn’t enough, Gwendolyn executes enemies, whether smashing them into the ground with a gauntleted hand or taking one’s axe to bash it to bits. This expands the options to juggle enemies, attacking mid-air and creating stylish combos, like freezing foes and shattering them to bits with a heavy attack. Keep in mind that there are more than six additional Knights that have yet to be showcased.

There are plenty of questions like how Gwendolyn possesses this power, whether she can save her sister from the ongoing calamity and how Avalon, the same island from Arthurian legend, ties in. Of course, the development team confirmed other promising details in a roundtable Q&A (via WCCF Tech), like over thirty hours of gameplay on average.

There are also more than thirty bosses with unique abilities (with some “very challenging boss fights” promised). Thus far, we’ve seen Mordred, a powerful counterpart to Gwendolyn’s fighting style and two other cool-looking bosses who unleash devastating melee attacks. Dodging and searching for the right windows to unleash skills is paramount, but the sheer sense of style and over-the-top action looks great.

It’s also worth noting that Gwendolyn will unlock three additional weapons – fists, bows, and a mysterious fourth option. Two-handed swords, potentially leading to the use of Excalibur? Lances? One could certainly hope.

It may have been enough if Tides of Annihilation had excellent combat, but there are some incredible visuals courtesy of Unreal Engine 5. The sense of scale is awe-inspiring, whether running for your life in a fold realm, watching a leviathan emerge from the water, or scaling the giant knights that roam London.

The latter is especially intriguing because not only do you climb their giant structures and fight them, but also “delve into their palatial depths” and uncover “the grand tales that define their existence.” Over/under on this being the way to unlock new Knights or abilities? Whatever the case, it’s yet another incredible addition to what’s already looking like a responsive, enjoyable hack-and-slash title.

In some ways, the reveal and sudden buzz surrounding Tides of Annihilation is reminiscent of Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong. Both came out of nowhere and immediately created an impression with their art direction and visual fidelity. Granted, their approaches to RPG elements differ – Wukong offers more distinctive build crafting, loot and unlockables, while Tides has levels and skill trees but doesn’t lean too much into it. But they both look incredibly responsive while touting some impressive boss fights.

Intriguingly, that’s not the only connection they share. Eclipse Glow revealed that the publisher invested in both projects with varying expectations. “Black Myth: Wukong targeted the Chinese market, but for this project, we targeted a Western audience, so we chose the Arthurian legends. The origin of this project was when the producer came up with the concept surrounding knights, and then we made the connection with the Knights of the Round Table from Arthurian myths,” said the developer. That’s also partly why Tides of Annihilation has been revealed at this stage – the team is seeking feedback to improve on it.

Though the Arthurian set-up is Western-focused, it’s all the more fitting given how popular and well-known it is worldwide. Look no further than the Fate franchise, which has created iconic characters based on King Arthur and Mordred. Tides offers its unique spin on the same while still connecting to those with some knowledge of the Arthurian legend. Having a great-looking character action game is just the icing on top.

Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long between the game’s reveal and release. Tides of Annihilation entered the beta stage at the end of 2024, and though it’s in the early development changes – with everything subject to change – it’s targeting a 2026 launch. Certain areas could use more polish, especially when the screen is alight with particles and the frame rate suffers. However, when you consider how long it took for Black Myth: Wukong to release following its August 2020 reveal, it’s exciting to see so many other compelling titles to follow up on it.

There’s plenty to talk about regarding Sony’s approach to State of Plays or its presentation of first-party games, never mind the whole live-service fiasco. Some may even offer concerns that the company is coasting on third-party offerings now that the PS5 is a certified, established success, which has some credence. After all, the last quarter of 2024 was its weakest in first-party offerings (Astro Bot arrived in September), and yet, it still shipped over 9.5 million consoles, bringing its lifetime total to 75 million.

However, if that approach means focusing the spotlight on games like Tides of Annihilation (and Lost Soul Aside, which finally received a release date), then maybe it’s not all that bad. Either way, we’re keen to see how the project develops and whether it can live up to the massive success of Black Myth: Wukong.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

The walkthrough focuses on showcasing the game’s exploration and combat mechanics. While the former includes some platforming (including a fast-paced sequence in the Inception-like fold realm), the latter centers on the Knights. Gwendolyn can attack enemies and even stylishly execute them, but it’s the Order of the Knights setting up different combos.

For example, a ranged Knight could fire projectiles that explode after a short duration or charged, hindering enemies with a swirling dome of continuous damage. Another Arthurian figure, Mordred, appears in the second half of the walkthrough as a boss fight, exchanging barbs with Gwendolyn throughout.

Tides of Annihilation is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. There’s no release window, but you can wishlist it now.

Set in London, the hack-and-slash title stars Gwendolyn (played by Jennifer English of Baldur’s Gate 3 fame) who battles an invading force. To do this, she’ll command King Arthur’s Order of Knights or at least spectral versions of the same. Each has unique abilities, and you can create some potent combos.

The other big part of the experience is the Colossal Knights, who you must battle. It’s easier said than done since you’ll need to climb their structures and investigate their “palatial depths.”

Tides of Annihilation is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, though a release window has yet to be confirmed. It is available to wishlist, so stay tuned for more details.

11 Minute Gameplay Showcase will be revealed tomorrow! 👀

Happy Lantern Festival! 🏮#TidesofAnnihilation pic.twitter.com/71W8qw7spE

— Tides of Annihilation (@play_toa) February 13, 2025

One game that caught the eye was Tides of Annihilation. The fantasy action-adventure title by new Eclipse Glow Games, a Tencent-funded studio that boasts veteran talent who worked on Yakuza, Persona, For Honor, Assassin’s Creed, and more. 

Tides of Annihilation is set in London – which comes under sudden (and heavy) siege from mysterious entities not of this world – as well as the fantasy realm of Avalon. Players play as Gwendolyn, who awakens to powers that allow her to command the legendary Knights of the Round Table. With these powers, she embarks to rescue her sister and defeat the demigods invading Earth.

On top of a story inspired by Arthurian legend, the game will also tout “distinct features such as a unique dual-knight fighting system and immense levels in the form of gigantic knights roaming the city of London”, according to Eclipse Glow. Check out the trailer below for more details.

Tides of Annihilation is in development for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (with PS5 Pro support). A release date or window hasn’t been announced.