Defiant Development was a favourite Aussie studio. Responsible for the excellent Hand of Fate, and the even better Hand of Fate 2, this team of game development veterans were doing amazing work to build the local industry and create a franchise that had real potential.
Unfortunately, Defiant couldn’t survive a challenging market here in Australia, and left us too soon, with the additional tragedy of a teaser that looked like it would have turned into something special.
The good news is that after a few years to lick their wounds, many of the team are back with a fresh new studio and a game that is already so, so exciting. The new studio is called Spitfire Interactive, and the game is called Capes.
Now, before you get too excited about playing it right away, this game won’t be out until next year, and when it does it will be PC-only (for now), however, the concept is just so intriguing.
This is a tactical turn-based strategy game about superheroes and, specifically, what superheroes would do after losing. From the announcement of the game: “Explore a world where the supervillains won, and a new generation of heroes must pick up the pieces 15 years later. Recruit a team of inexperienced supes, and learn how to bring out the full potential of their growing powers. Tactically move units each turn and combine heroes’ abilities to make sure no civilians are left behind and that crime stays down for good.”
To confirm, Spitfire Interactive is headed by local legend, Morgan Jaffit, who was the head of Defiant beforehand. “I started my career writing on Freedom Force alongside Ken Levine, so this feels like a return to where my journey began,” Jaffit said in a press release.
“My team and I want to explore the ‘darker side of every coin’ and we have the best people possible to do it.”
I will play anything this guy and his team push out, and while I am not the world’s biggest fan of where superheroes as a genre have evolved to, I’ll be jumping on this day one.
That looks really cool. Superheroes are a really tired theme but I appreciate an original take on it very much. Just like The Boys on prime breathed new life into the genre on tv.
Yeah I have big faith in this team. As you say, superheroes are becoming exhausting, but these guys really know what they’re doing, and I fully expect this will be excellent.
Now that’s good news!