Quantic Dream is mostly known for its single-player, narrative-heavy games like Detroit: Become Human and Heavy Rain, so it was a surprise when the studio announced a 3v3 arena multiplayer game called Spellcasters Chronicles. Now, the studio has revealed a new NPC named Ozdam Devam, the Chronicler of Ashkenon, who seems to be set up as the keeper of the game’s narrative elements.
When Spellcasters Chronicles was first announced last October, Quantic Dream said that it would still maintain its signature story focus through a “community-driven narrative.” The Chronicler seems to be another piece of that puzzle, with a press release referring to him as a “mysterious in-world narrator” and an “intermediary between the community of Spellcasters and the world of mortals.”
Quantic Dream has released a video to introduce Ozdam and his role, in which the wizened Chronicler addresses player feedback from the first open beta without breaking from his character or the in-game lore. While the video is a cute way to address player feedback and deliver patch notes, it seems to be setting up Ozdam as a character who can translate player feedback or actions in-game into decisions that will impact the ongoing story of Spellcaster Chronicles.
With the open beta now behind it and the feedback analyzed, Quantic Dream has announced that the next closed beta weekend will be taking place between January 29 and February 2. The second beta will include a new 5-lane arena map called the Nordic Shore, a brand-new onboarding tutorial, new spells, summons, buildings, and more.
For players who want to guarantee a spot in the next beta, the studio has announced a number of founder’s packs ranging from $9 to $70, each of which include exclusive cosmetic items and a key for the second beta.
Players who miss out on the beta won’t have to wait too long to try out the game, with the early access launch coming next month on February 26. The free-to-play Spellcasters Chronicles doesn’t conform to any particular genre of competitive multiplayer, taking elements from MOBAs and deckbuilders to build its own unique style of 3v3 arena gameplay.