Developer Odd Meter and publisher 11 bit Studios are bringing out Indika, a narrative-driven adventure game set in a parallel 19th-century Russia, slated for launch in the first quarter of 2024.
The Russia-based development Odd Meter had to leave their home country one year into the development of the game as Russia invaded Ukraine. Often overlooked by the mainstream media, there were hundreds of thousands of Russians who had to flee the country due to their opposition to the invasion. According to Odd Meter co-founder Dmitry Svetlov, the studio comprises many developers with this bent of mind. As a result, they had to shift bases to Kazakhstan and resumed the development of their unique game.
A share of the game’s earnings will be directed to help children affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, underscoring their dedication to assisting those facing challenges.
What Is Indika All About?
In Indika, the scenery is remarkably realistic, showcasing intricate details through motion-captured facial expressions and photorealistic structures and interiors—all made possible by the Unreal Engine. But it’s not just a regular landscape; it’s what Dmitry Svetlov calls a “fairy tale” setting, adorned with imaginative touches. This includes the use of monochrome or blood-red filters and hallucinatory visuals, along with a mysterious creature resembling Ursula K Le Guin’s Shadow from ‘A Wizard Of Earthsea’.
The game’s locations are designed to be almost too true to life, obsessively focusing on small details to the point of otherworldliness. Setlov explains that while historical elements are carefully treated, many are deliberately transformed into highly artistic, exaggerated versions that border on the grotesque.
As for the gameplay mechanics, they are purposefully plot-driven, immersing players in a deliberate and controlled pace. The experience involves numerous cutscenes and extended conversations, providing a deep narrative dive. However, to break the rhythm and add excitement, there are spatial puzzles incorporated into the gameplay.
Odd Meter Left The Country To Finish The Game
As mentioned earlier, Odd Meter devs had to flee their home country Russia following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Dmitry Svetlov, who started the game studio, said, “It’s like a really bad dream. Something happened that should never have happened.”
Rufus Kubica, in his role as the lead for product management at 11 bit Studios, highlighted the stark reality of a war that strips away humanity, revealing the vulnerability of our belief in a free and civilized world. He expressed how the lives of many individuals hang precariously on the decisions made in the military realm. Case in point, 11 bit Studios developed This War of Mine, a game that garnered critical success for realistically portraying how civilians are affected in an ongoing war.
When the Odd Meter team made the courageous choice to depart from Russia and settle in Kazakhstan, the Poland-based developer-publisher 11 bit studios stood by them, recognizing the need for the team to stabilize their personal and professional lives. This required adjusting development timelines and investing considerable effort in dealing with administrative work. Above all, they respected the game’s essence — the themes, story, and its audacious exploration of subjects often overlooked in the gaming sphere.
Kubica emphasized their unwavering confidence in Odd Meter’s commitment to crafting a truly unique and thought-provoking experience with significant artistic value. Any attempt at imposing censorship would reflect doubt in this belief and undermine the essence of the game they are collectively striving to create.
As for Svetlov and the other devs at Odd Meter, their future seems distressed as any attempt to return to their homeland might result in imprisonment for treason. Svetlov states, “After this announcement and my statements, it’s better not to come back [to Russia]. Many people have said, when I show them my statements, that I’m crazy — because I’ve already spoken about things that are against a few laws, the most dangerous of which is being a traitor of the homeland. It could cost you 20 years in prison.”
Indika will be released in Q1 2024 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.
