Nightingale is a first-person survival and crafting game set in an alternate Victorian world where magic has existed for centuries. The game was developed by Inflexion Games, a studio founded by former BioWare head Aaryn Flynn, and later acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Tencent. Flynn has played a crucial role in the project’s direction and in making significant decisions about the game.
The game was initially announced as an online multiplayer RPG, but was later redefined as a “survival and crafting game in a shared world.” The development history of Nightingale has experienced several delays, originally scheduled to launch in late 2022, but was then delayed to update the game to Unreal Engine 5 and to implement changes based on feedback received during gameplay testing. The update to Unreal Engine 5 was a challenging process that involved merging changes, fixing bugs, and investing in automation to streamline the update process. Jacques Lebrun and Noel Lukasewich are two of the Inflexion Games developers who worked on updating the game from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5.
Nightingale will launch in early access on February 20, 2024, and will be available on PC through Steam and Epic Games Store. Although originally conceived as a multiplayer game, it is now described as a more intimate experience for single players or small groups. The game will not include a PvP (player versus player) mode, but will focus on PvE (player versus environment) cooperation, with support for groups of up to 10 players per server.
In terms of gameplay, Nightingale focuses on resource gathering, item crafting, and large-scale settlement building. Players will be able to explore different realms using a portal system and face off against both minor enemies and giant bosses. A distinctive element of the game is the use of “Realm Cards,” which allow players to generate new realms and exert some degree of control over what they will find on the other side of the portal.
What is Nightingale About?
In Nightingale, players find themselves in an alternate universe where magic and Victorian technology coexist. Humanity has forged an alliance with magical beings known as “Fae,” learning from them the art of magic and establishing the city of Nightingale as a center of learning and gateway to multiple realms through a network of magical portals. This balance is abruptly disrupted by “The Pale,” a mysterious phenomenon that brings destruction and chaos, devastating the realms and leaving survivors struggling for survival.
In the midst of this chaos, players assume the role of “Realmwalkers,” adventurers trapped in unknown realms due to the collapse of the portal system during their attempt to escape the catastrophe. Separated from Nightingale, their primary goal becomes finding a way back to the city, believing it to be the last bastion of hope against “The Pale.” To achieve this, they must adapt to the harsh conditions of the new realms, collecting resources, building shelters, and facing the hostile creatures that inhabit these worlds.
The journey of the Realmwalkers is one of survival and discovery. Each realm offers unique challenges and opportunities to unravel the mysteries surrounding “The Pale” and the portal network. As players explore these worlds, they uncover clues about the history of the relationship between humans and the Fae, and the importance of Nightingale as a center of magical knowledge. Their journey becomes a race against time to restore the portals and find a way to return to the city before “The Pale” consumes everything in its path.
As we told you, Nightingale is literally just around the corner. If you’re as excited as we are, you’ll surely be counting the hours until the early access launch. We certainly will be! But first, we invite you to leave us your opinion or your expectations about this game in the comments, whose premise is already captivating us from now on. Go ahead, gamer, we’ll be reading! 🙂
Images Source: PlayNightingale Official YouTube Channel, YouTube, Nightingale Official Website
