Future Unfolding – Press Kit

Basic Facts

Developer
Spaces of Play UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Based in Berlin, Germany

Stores
PlayStation 4
Steam
GOG.com
Humble Store
itch.io
Mac App Store

Game scope
Around 200 hand-designed areas to explore, each with dozens of procedural variations. The world layout is unique for each player.

Description

Future Unfolding is an action adventure that is all about exploration. Your goal is to unfold the mysteries and solve the puzzles hidden in the beautiful landscapes around you. There are no tutorials, and no one is telling you what to do.

During your journey you encounter different types of wild animals. Some of them are friendly and help you to solve puzzles that open up new areas. Other animals are dangerous — deadly, even. You need to avoid them, or find ways to render them harmless.

Every object in Future Unfolding is made of dynamic particles and can transform, move or blend into something else – even the ground. You can push through the trees in the forest, you can dash through grass to destroy it, and move every stone in the game. All animations are hand-drawn frame-by-frame and use our custom technology to create dynamic 3D shadows.

Background information

Why the procedurally generated world of Future Unfolding is hand designedProcedural generation is often used to programatically generate playable levels from scratch. With Future Unfolding, we are combining procedural generation with traditional level design instead. Read more

Why we built our own tech for Future UnfoldingPeople are often surprised that we’re not using Unity. And, they are wondering how we created the look of the game. Both are directly related to each other. Read more

Why most of the inspiration for Future Unfolding didn't come from gamesPoetry, art, nature – Future Unfolding takes inspiration from many sources outside video games. Read more

Video

Release Date Announcement Trailer
Trailer by Matt Chandronait (Area 5)

Trailer Steam Greenlight

Trailer PlayStation 4
Trailer by Marlon Wiebe

Screenshots (2017)

Screenshots (2016)

Promotional Art (hi-res)

Additional formats

1920x1080 16:9
2048x1536 4:3
2560x1440 16:9
2880x1800 16:10
3543x2030 Print
2560x1460 Including title

Logos

Team

Coming from three different countries, Mattias Ljungström (@maljx), Marek Plichta (@artbymarek) and Andreas Zecher (@andreaszecher) initially met at a university in Germany, before parting ways for a few years. In 2010 they reunited to make the highly regarded puzzle game Spirits. Working remotely from Berlin and Stockholm, they aim to close the gap between stunning visual worlds and experimental, emergent game play.

The vibrant sound design of Future Unfolding was created by Sweden-based composers Thomas Carleberg and Emil Nilsson. The artist, writer and researcher Till Wittwer worked as a writer on the game.

Team — Marek Plichta (Game Design & Art Direction), Andreas Zecher (Business & Development), Mattias Ljungström (Game Design & Code)

Awards & Recognition

“IndieCade Official Selection“ Los Angeles, USA 2017
“IGF – Excellence in Visual Arts (Honorable Mention)“ San Francisco, USA 2017
“IGF – Nuovo Award (Honorable Mention)“ San Francisco, USA 2016
“IGF – Excellence in Visual Arts (Honorable Mention)“ San Francisco, USA 2016
“Milano Game Festival Selection“ Milan, Italy 2016
“AzPlay Playability Award“ Bilbao, Spain 2015
“Notgame Fest Main Exhibition“ Cologne, Germany 2015
“BitSummit Official Selection“ Kyoto, Japan 2015
“FILE Festival“ São Paulo 2015
“A MAZE. Official Exhibition“ Berlin, Germany 2015
“Mild Rumpus Selection“ San Francisco, USA 2015
“IGF – Excellence in Visual Arts (Honorable Mention)“ San Francisco, USA 2015
“Gamercamp (Honorable Mention)“ Toronto, Canada 2014
“Fantastic Arcade“ Austin, USA 2014
“Out Of Index“ Seoul, Korea 2014
“European Innovative Games Showcase“ Cologne, Germany 2014
“Notgames Fest Playground“ Cologne, Germany 2013
“Media Indie Exchange“ San Francisco, USA 2013
“Republika – A MAZE. Indie Games Exhibition“ Rijeka, Croatia 2013
“Sense of Wonder Night (Shortlist)“ Tokyo, Japan 2013

Press Coverage

"There is a true artistic richness in Future Unfolding, like plunging into an ocean current deep below where the sun shines, a hidden power that subtly but powerfully rewards to our patience, curiosity, and imagination."–Eron Rauch, ZAM

"Some games are special. […] Future Unfolding is one of them."–spong.com

"The mesh of interacting systems […] packs every scene with surprises waiting to be discovered"–Richard Plant, thefountain.eu

"A game about […] true exploration; in the physical sense of moving around a rendered landscape, and the mental exercise of figuring out the rules of that same world."–Peter Parrish, pcinvasion.com

"In motion, at 60fps no less, Future Unfolding is exquisite; it’s smooth and satisfying, like controlling your own dreamlike painting."–gamespew.com

"A game that is as joyful as it is meditative – it’s as playful as it is philosophical."–Steve C, thesixthaxis.com

"The difference between Future Unfolding and other games that tout player agency is that discovery isn't just a feature tacked onto a linear, predetermined story. Discovery is literally the only way you'll be able to play the game"–Jess Joho, killscreendaily.com

"The kind of game that's beautiful to look at even if you're completely unaware of what's going on, it's got an almost hypnotic quality."–Bengt Lemne, gamereactor.eu

"Future Unfolding has a similar woozy, heady quality to Hotline Miami – if, perhaps, Dennaton's troubled antihero had swapped guns for a moderate amount of peyote and headed off into the countryside to find himself."–Edge

"Future Unfolding’s world is a lush and rich with color, begging to be delved into. It looks almost like you’re walking through a bright, colorful impressionist painting."–Andrew Webster, theverge.com

"There are some games where a few screenshots or a quick clip of gameplay footage are enough to get your attention. Future Unfolding is one of them."–Kyle VanHemert, wired.com

"My goal is to play the damn thing the minute it’s available."–Adam Smith, rockpapershotgun.com

"An impressionistic exploration of natural surroundings."–Sophie Weiner, animalnewyork.com

"Observe and interact with the wildlife to get clues and discover patterns in this mystical place."–Filip Visnjic, creativeapplications.net

"Each step is one more into the unknown."–Chris Priestman, IndieStatik

"If you are one who loves exploration, keep your eye on this one."–Sabriel Mastin, indiegamerchick.com

"A not-so-gentle reminder that sometimes games can be used as a relaxing, meditative medium when you want to step away from the tension and drama of explosions and high-octane, edge-of-your-seat action."–Dale Emasiri, godisageek.com