Ashfall, a “true Web3 triple-A title,” has been revealed by a new studio called Liithos, headed by two PlayStation veterans, CEO Michael Mumbauer and Vice President of Creative John Garvin. Garvin was the creative director for Days Gone and Syphon Filter at Bend Studio, while Mumbauer was with Sony for 13 years and helped develop characters like Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us. The game will incorporate blockchain-like technology for trading.
What we know so far about Ashfall
Described as a “narrative-drive open-world” game in a reveal feature on VentureBeat, Ashfall will release for PC, consoles, and the blockchain-forward Hedera network. The post-apocalyptic world, created by Garvin, has been decimated by “global warming, the ignited volcanic Ring-of-Fire, mysterious and disruptive energy fields, and warring enclaves.” The game will focus on the Seattle area, seemingly impacted by volcanic smoke and ash, and begin as a connected single-player adventure before involving more familiar PvP and PvE elements.
That Ashfall utilizes the Hedera ecosystem, formed by the HBAR Foundation which provides grants to companies interested in NFTs, DeFi, ESGs, and other sectors, would make some players understandably suspicious. While Hedera is typically used to verify digital items and transactions on “blockchain-like technology,” the mere mention of Web3 and blockchain is cause for hesitation. However, Mumbauer believes blockchains can do more for gaming that hasn’t been explored:
There is a bit of a misunderstanding in my opinion on what blockchain gaming could mean for gamers. I see the blockchain as a railway and the main station is videogames.
The other rail stations all lead to the main one, which is games and the trains deliver precious cargo (NFTs) to gamers via the other stations. It’s a way to have deeper and more engaging experiences than we’ve ever seen before.
Ashfall will reportedly use the Hedera network to let players build, sell, and trade items that they scavenge and discover throughout the world. Part of the game’s lore will be expanded through partnerships with various comic book creators, including a digital comic written by Garvin himself with cover art by DC Comics’ Brett Booth.
In other news, PS Plus Premium finally gets the missing launch title Super Stardust Portable, and Final Fantasy 16 gameplay will “flow at a breakneck pace” on PS5.
