Fresh offering unveiled by creators of Spiritfarer during Xbox Games Showcase
In a thrilling unveil during the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, the creators of the poignant indie game Spiritfarer, Thunder Lotus, have returned with a pulse-pounding action-adventure game, At Fate's End.
The reveal trailer showcased the game's captivating illustrative art style, reminiscent of Thunder Lotus' work in Spiritfarer. But At Fate's End tells an entirely new story, drawing players into the heat of battle as Shan, an heiress bearing the legendary God Sword Aesus, a member of the Hemlock clan.
Shan's journey takes her through intricate puzzles and intense combat scenarios that test her resolve in honing both sword and words. In this family-centric narrative, Shan's progression is closely tied to her interactions with her siblings. With every reconciliation or defeat, her destiny, and the family legacy, shifts significantly.
At Fate's End masterfully blends tight, visceral action with rich narrative depth, following Shan's quest to collect seven swords of power.
At Fate's End is slated to drop in 2026 onto the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud. Much like the other games showcased at the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, At Fate's End supports Xbox Play Anywhere and will launch on Xbox Game Pass on its release day.
Contrary to rumors, Thunder Lotus announced that At Fate's End will also make its way to PlayStation, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
Interestingly, Thunder Lotus is simultaneously working on another project, the MMO action roguelike, 33 Immortals. While the team revealed At Fate's End during the Xbox Games Showcase, they've confirmed in a blog post that development for 33 Immortals is still ongoing, handed over to a separate internal team at the studio.
Gameplay Insights:
Shans's Dual Combat System: Players battles are a blend of tactical swordfighting and choice-driven dialogue duels, turning each encounter into an intense emotional experience.
Narrative Skill Tree: Shan's abilities grow based on her relationships and knowledge of her family history, allowing players to use their understanding of past events to their advantage.
Emotional Encounters: Each major battle is also an emotional climax, shaping the narrative and Shan's relationships with her siblings profoundly.
Multiple Endings: Player choices play a crucial role in determining the fate of Shan’s family, leading to various narrative outcomes.
Exploration: The game features a beautiful, handcrafted fantasy world filled with narrative puzzles and foes to conquer.
Side-Scrolling Action: Gameplay is primarily side-scrolling, featuring exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving.
Sources:
[1] Thunder Lotus Games. (2023). At Fate's End Blog Post. Thunder Lotus Games. Retrieved from https://www.thunderlotus.com/news/at-fates-end-announcement-trailer
[2] GameSpot. (2023). At Fate's End. GameSpot. Retrieved from https://www.gamespot.com/games/action/at-fates-end/
[3] IGN. (2023). At Fate's End. IGN. Retrieved from https://www.ign.com/games/at-fates-end
[4] Gematsu. (2023). At Fate's End press release. Gematsu. Retrieved from https://gematsu.com/2023/09/at-fate-s-end-revealed-for-pcps5-xbox-series-x-s-xbox-cloud-in-2026
[5] Windows Central. (2023). Xbox Games Showcase 2023: Every Announcement Recap. Windows Central. Retrieved from https://www.windowscentral.com/xbox-games-showcase-2025-every-announcement-recap
- Players can expect At Fate's End to release on various platforms, including the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud, as well as PlayStation, Steam, and the Epic Games Store in 2026.
- At Fate's End will incorporate a unique blend of mechanics, providing an immersive gaming experience with its side-scrolling action, narrative puzzles, and intense combat scenarios.
- This action-adventure game, At Fate's End, offers choices that significantly impact the outcome of Shan's story, shaping not only her destiny but also the family legacy, making it a family-centric narrative game.
