While it’s definitely a bummer that those among you on Xbox Series X/S or Nintendo Switch 2 are going to have to sit out The Relic: First Guardian when it launches for the PS5 and PC later this week, we do have some heartening news for you.
We interviewed the talented team behind this intriguing take on a dark and gritty world. World variety and the narrative are tightly woven into the gameplay and world, but it’s also interesting to hear about the technical priorities for each platform, both current and imminent.
“We are a small studio, and The Relic: First Guardian is our first game. Because of that, rather than trying to offer every possible feature broadly, we chose to focus on what we believe is essential for an action RPG. For us, the atmosphere of the world, combat, and stable gameplay were the main priorities. For the Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions, we will also prioritize a stable console experience. Our approach is not simply to reduce visual quality, but to preserve the core atmosphere and combat experience of the game as much as possible.”
Well, that points to a relatively stable experience that still manages to sustain this one’s intense atmosphere, which could be worth the wait in our opinion. However, it’s the lack of information about the PlayStation 5’s performance targets that has us slightly concerned.
“The PS5 and PS5 Pro versions are currently in the final optimization stage, and as an action game, stable frame rate and combat responsiveness are our top priorities. Whether Quality and Performance modes will be available, as well as the final resolution and frame rate targets, will be confirmed based on the final build and announced before release.”
Well, that release is now only a couple of days away, and with no information about performance targets and graphical options on one of the game’s launch platforms, we’re guessing that a lot of players are content to hold off on pre-ordering. For a game that’s marking a studio’s debut, the developers are going to want to get that out sooner rather than later.
However, The Relic: First Guardian is looking like a title that’s designed to stay with you long after you roll the credits on it, and that’s always welcome in our corner.
