Games writer and designer Chris Avellone – whose previous credits include the likes of Fallout: New Vegas, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 – has joined up with Republic Games to work on the studio’s upcoming release.
Republic Games was set up last year by Adam Williams, the former lead writer for Quantic Dreams’ Detroit: Become Human and Star Wars Eclipse, with backing from Krafton. At this time, it was revealed the team was working on a handcrafted “dark, mature fantasy RPG”.
Now, announcing Avellone’s new position at Republic Games, Williams said the studio was “very excited to work with Chris”, and has shared a few more details on what players can expect on the upcoming game’s arrival.
“As you’d expect from the team, our RPG will feature a rich, interesting story with lots of meaningful choices, branches, and endings,” Williams told Eurogamer today. “Our world will feature a totalitarian regime seeking to crush a rebellion, with competing factions and allegiances the player can join, giving them the full freedom to create the hero – or antihero – they want to be.
“There is also a deep undercurrent of prophecy and the supernatural which will elevate the player’s adventure into the realms of mythology. But in addition to the narrative, we also have full, classic RPG gameplay – including combat, character creation, recruitable companions, romances and more. Our ambition is to combine that ‘golden-age of RPGs’ design with a next-level interactive storytelling.”
Williams added that Avellone is “a master of interactive storytelling”, and someone he is glad to have joining the Republic Games team. In 2020, Avellone was the subject of sexual harassment allegations, and some chose to distance themselves from the developer. Avellone was cleared of these allegations in 2023.
In a separate public statement, Avellone himself added: “When Adam shared his vision and design for his upcoming title, I asked if I could collaborate, and Adam was more than willing to bring me on board as part of the team.
“I love the design principles he’s outlining for the game, and even better, I love the narrative construction he’s implementing as well. To be a part of it on the ground floor is pretty amazing, and it’s a rare opportunity in the industry.”
While for now further details on Republic Games’ upcoming RPG remain under wraps, last year Williams confirmed Bryan and Amelia Dechart, who were part of the main cast in Detroit: Become Human, are planning to appear in the upcoming release.