The Road to Early Access and Beta Unveiled
During the much-anticipated Gamescom 2023, PlaySide Publishing dropped the news about Zugalu Entertainment’s upcoming medieval city-building game, Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown. Slated for Early Access release on PC via Steam in 2024, the game will offer a Beta version in 2023 to satisfy eager gamers ahead of the launch.
It’s More Than Just City-Building
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown promises to blend complex city-building elements with real-time strategy (RTS) gameplay. Designed for up to four players, the game introduces an extensive narrative event system that places the fate of your virtual kingdom squarely in your hands.
A Decade in the Making
The Co-Founder and CEO of Zugalu Entertainment, Branden Sloane, declared that Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown has been a ten-year endeavor. It aims to present players with meaningful choices, each significantly impacting the world they create within the game.
Choices That Shape Kingdoms
The title centers around the concept of ruling with Benevolence or Tyranny. Players will explore uncharted lands, set up a formidable military, and engage in real-time combat scenarios. Whether played solo or with up to four players, the decisions made by gamers will ultimately shape their realm’s destiny.
The Multiplayer Angle
Breaking the norms of the genre, Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown provides a fully realized single-player experience alongside a multi-player mode for up to four players. Players can construct and lead their kingdoms cooperatively or competitively.
Waelgrim: The Mystical Challenge
Navigating through the mystical lands of Nysamor, players will face off against both AI and human opponents. Adding another layer of complexity is the Waelgrim, a mystical entity players must confront and negotiate with during their reign.
Community Call to Action
Sloane emphasized the importance of community feedback in refining the game experience. Zugalu Entertainment invites players to join their Discord server to actively participate in shaping the game’s development.
Recognition and Funding
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown secured funding from the Canada Media Fund during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, under their Experimental Stream (Commercial Projects Program). This speaks volumes about the game’s market potential and innovative features, vetted by a panel of 20 industry professionals worldwide.
Ready to dive into the world of Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown? The beta’s coming in 2023, so prep your rigs and sharpen your strategy skills, gamers. Keep an eye out for the Early Access release in 2024!
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
