Tencent Targets Western Audience with Arthurian Knights in Tides of Annihilation

In an interview with Wccftech at Gamescom 2024, the developers of Tides of Annihilation from Eclipse Glow Games delved into the game's unique concept and its appeal to Western audiences. Read on to discover more about its setting, gameplay, and future plans.

Tides of Annihilation Targets a Western Audience

The Central Concept of Arthurian Myths and Knights

Eclipse Glow Games, despite being based in China, chose a Western setting for Tides of Annihilation to meet the expectations set by their financial backer, Tencent. The game's producer explained, "This game and Black Myth: Wukong are two projects invested in by Tencent, and there were different expectations set on these two projects. Black Myth: Wukong targeted the Chinese market, but for this project, we targeted a Western audience, so we chose the Arthurian legends." The central theme revolves around knights, which evolved into the iconic King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Set in a post-apocalyptic modern-day London, Tides of Annihilation follows heroine Gwendolyn, seemingly the last human survivor after an Outworld invasion. The game blends an alternate modern setting with fantasy elements drawn directly from Arthurian myths.

Devil May Cry-inspired Combat and Over 30 Bosses

Fans of action-RPGs will notice that Tides of Annihilation's combat system draws heavily from the Devil May Cry series. The developers confirmed this influence, stating, "It's definitely more like Devil May Cry," but with the added feature of adjustable difficulty settings. This makes the game more accessible to players of varying skill levels.

Players can customize their combat style with four different weapons and over ten unique Knights to assist them. Gwendolyn discovers her ability to command the legendary Knights of the Round Table, who aid her in navigating the devastated city of London to uncover the truth behind the invasion. With over 30 bosses, each with distinct abilities, the game promises challenging and engaging gameplay.

Plans for Creating an Anthology

Eclipse Glow Games also expressed interest in expanding the franchise into an anthology, exploring different settings and mythologies with new protagonists. They plan to retain the Outworld invasion concept as the core theme of the potential series. The success of Tides of Annihilation is crucial for bringing these future projects to life.

Currently in its beta phase, Tides of Annihilation is slated for a 2026 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players will join Gwendolyn on her quest to save not only London but also the fantasy realm of Avalon, which seems to be intertwining with the real world.