After months of silence, Ghost Story Games finally shared another look at Judas, the upcoming narrative shooter from BioShock creator Ken Levine. The new update went up on the PlayStation Blog and gives us more on the gameplay, characters, and where development is at right now.
Villainy System Explained
The biggest reveal is a new mechanic called “Villainy.” Instead of having a set list of bad guys like in BioShock, Judas puts three main characters in play, and their roles shift depending on how you treat them.
- Your choices decide who stays on your side and who eventually turns against you.
- Once someone becomes a villain, they unlock new powers designed to mess with your progress.
- The system takes some inspiration from Shadow of Mordor’s Nemesis system, but it is more personal, built around emotional bonds with these characters.
Dynamic Relationships
The “Big 3” will observe your every move: combat, hacking, crafting, and interactions. After that, they will then respond accordingly:
- They can assist you in battle or abandon you.
- Try to win your favor with gifts, secrets, or manipulation.
- Compete against each other for your trust, while gossiping and undermining one another.
Ghost Story’s goal is to make you feel like you are really losing a friend when one of them turns against you, turning betrayal into a major emotional choice.
Playtesting & Feedback
Not long ago, there was a new playtest, and some people were able to share their feedback:
- The team recently finished its largest Judas playtest yet.
- Players strongly reacted to the weight of decisions, betrayal moments, and character dynamics.
- Feedback is being used to refine how choices affect outcomes.
Development Updates
Ken Levine admitted the team has been silent to focus on development, but now wants to share more regular “dev logs.”
- These updates will be less polished than trailers, but more frequent.
- The studio is avoiding a release date announcement until they are absolutely sure.
- New key art, inspired by Drew Struzan’s movie posters, was revealed, highlighting Judas’s massive cast of over 100 speaking characters.
As mentioned, there is still no release date, but it is clear that Judas is going to be an amazing and ambitious mix of narrative, choice, and exciting gameplay!
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