The Wayward Realms to Start Kickstarter Campaign

As revealed in a new video by OnceLost Games, the Wayward Realms, a new open-world RPG, is one step closer to its Kickstarter campaign. Originally announced in 2021, the game is bigger and more ambitious than The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall.

“The Wayward Realms is a first of its kind ‘grand RPG’ where your decisions dictate your story and determine which path you take in this massive, open world,” CEO Ted Peterson, formerly of Elder Scrolls games and Daggerfall, describes; the studio also touts Julian Lefay, who joined Peterson on these projects.

By using Unreal Engine 5, the game employs a ‘grand RPG’ approach by returning to classic CRPG design philosophies.

According to the Steam page, the game promises in-depth lore, a flexible class system, and sheer size. Cities can have hundreds or even thousands of NPCs, and procedural generation is used to expand the world’s landscapes.

In addition, it includes a dedicated “virtual Game Master” who crafts unique experiences for each player, although it’s unclear whether he’s procedurally generated or a real person.

In the upcoming Kickstarter, the studio hopes to fully fund an Early Access version of the game, transforming their volunteer team into full-time contributors. It also plans to advance enough for a playable version to be pitched directly to developers.

Currently, there is no exact date for the Kickstarter, but a Kickstarter page is up so those interested can be notified, and the team says it aims for spring 2024. However, the team wrote on its home page:

”We are thrilled to announce that The Wayward Realms is coming to Kickstarter! Our goal is to fund the creation of an Early Access build for you to enjoy and provide feedback on. There will be fantastic backer rewards, including various ways for you to leave your mark on The Wayward Realms. Make sure to follow our Kickstarter page so you don’t miss out when it launches!”