Creating The Plucky Squire Before Others Did

The Plucky Squire offers a unique twist, exploring a fresh perspective-shifting mechanic with characters inside a 2D book that can jump out to explore the 3D world around it. The game is launching on PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC, and was first unveiled at Devolver Digital's 2022 summer showcase. Jonathan Biddle, co-founder and co-director of All Possible Futures, expressed concerns that another developer might create a similar game, prompting the team to release their first trailer early. The trailer garnered positive reactions and interest from players, which Biddle attributes to the game's exciting mechanics and the "message it's sending." Biddle notes that the team aimed to create a game that brings joy, which is sometimes lacking in video games. The team loved seeing people's reactions to the original trailer, particularly the moment when it switches from 2D to 3D. This reaction helped the team's recruitment efforts, as it attracted people who were interested in working on the game. The game's core ideas were present from the beginning of development, stemming from characters created by All Possible Futures' other co-founder, James Turner. The idea of a 3D book was the starting point, and the team incrementally developed the game, answering questions about character animation and Unreal Engine's compatibility with 2D. Despite the challenges, the team made a 25-minute demo that captured the game's unique mechanics. Biddle notes that the game's transition from 2D to 3D was relatively easy, but having a consistent camera was more complicated. The team is smaller than the game's polish suggests, with only four people working on the original demo and a peak team size of 23 people, including contractors. Biddle discusses the importance of being mechanically interesting, noting that it's difficult to plan for success and that luck plays a significant role. He emphasizes that he couldn't work on a game that isn't interesting, as it would be a waste of time and resources. The team is aware of other titles with perspective shifts, such as Fez and Monument Valley, but believes that The Plucky Squire brings a fresh twist to the idea. The game's release coincides with the launch of a new Zelda title, but Biddle is not concerned, as the team focused on creating a good game rather than rushing to meet a deadline. He notes that launch week is just the beginning, and the team will continue to work on the game to keep people interested. The team has ideas for the future of The Plucky Squire, but nothing has been solidified yet. Biddle hopes that the game will live up to its potential and that players will enjoy it as much as the team does.