Dreamscaper Developer Reveals New Sci-Fi Action Platformer, Elta: Defy All Gods

Afterburner Studios, developer of 2021’s Dreamscaper, and publisher Focus Entertainment revealed a new sci-fi action-platformer called Elta: Defy All Gods during Gamescom Opening Night Live. The game arrives next year and stars a warrior monk and a dragon partnering to save the world.

The reveal trailer kicks off by showcasing protagonist Victis, a warrior monk clad in high-tech armor, who seeks to find their lost god, Elta, to save civilization. Elta is a small dragon who has lost most of its power, and it’s up to Victis to help restore that strength. The reveal trailer begins in cinematic fashion, with the pair exploring a snowy cave and battling similarly frigid enemies. Despite Victis’ bulky appearance, the character appears surprisingly nimble, gracefully pummeling threats using martial arts while traversing precarious perches by wall-running, backflipping, and other parkour maneuvers.

The trailer’s second half features a montage of gameplay clips that appear true to this cinematic reveal, with the character using a wrist-mounted grapple line to cross gaps and ride rails. According to Afterburner Studios, Elta: Defy All Gods combat blends martial-arts-inspired melee with magic attacks. Elta, who sits perched on Victis’ shoulder, can shoot fireballs, for example. Taking a page from the Metroidvania playbook, progression involves finding new combat and traversal abilities to access new areas and hidden secrets. The game also sports a unique art direction that makes it resemble a living oil painting. 

You can try Elta: Defy Gods early thanks to a public demo arriving on October 1. The full game launches in early 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.