The original Kena: Bridge of Spirits was positioned as a tentpole PS5 title, and Sony put a lot of marketing behind it to ensure its success.
With its upcoming sequel Scars of Kosmora, announced during last week’s State of Play, the platform holder has upped its investment, adding the title to its PS Studios portfolio. This means while dev Ember Lab will remain independent, it’s being treated like a first-party game, such as Lost Soul Aside or Death Stranding 2: On the Beach or Stellar Blade.
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And writing on the PS Blog, co-founder Josh Grier seemed pretty enthusiastic about PlayStation’s input and what it means for the game:
“Partnering with PS Studios has empowered us to craft an even larger world – one built with an emphasis on tightly designed regions, deliberate progression, and a strong sense of adventure. We’re super excited to share more in the future and can’t wait for you to get your hands on what we’ve been crafting. The reception for Bridge of Spirits was humbling, and we hope to deliver on what everyone loved about the first game and more.”
The game certainly looks like a massive step forward in terms of variety, visual detail, and scale.
The big change to the gameplay this time is the introduction of elemental infusions, which you earn by unlocking Spirit Companions throughout the campaign.
While it’s ultimately part of a different genre, Genshin Impact may be a good reference point here; in that game you’re encouraged to blend elements to do damage – combining grass with fire, for example, heightens burn status effects.
The game’s due out later this year and is clearly going to be a key touchpoint in PS5’s release schedule. Are you looking forward to seeing what Ember Lab can do with a bigger budget?