Playfusion's Ascendant Rises from the Ashes of Lightseekers

UK developer Playfusion has unveiled its latest game, Ascendant, which promises to shake up the online multiplayer space with dynamic matches that change every time. The game goes beyond mere equipment and point-scoring item randomization, also featuring random events like air strikes and monster spawns that disrupt players' strategies. Founder Mark Gerhard expresses relief that the initial reveal was well-received, citing a desire for fresh, innovative content in the gaming industry. Despite some criticism of the original title, Ascendant Infinity, the team is focused on delivering a game that lives up to the hype. Gerhard reveals that the game is just the beginning of a larger transmedia vision, with a pilot for a TV show written by the creators of Arcane, a Netflix series based on League of Legends. Playfusion holds patents for technology that links the show to the game, as well as plans to feature players' characters in the TV series. The studio's debut title, Lightseekers, was also built around transmedia, but its launch was derailed by the collapse of partner Toys R Us. Gerhard acknowledges the challenges of managing multiple products in different forms of entertainment, but believes that a world-class example of transmedia is needed to pave the way for others. The team has taken a different approach to game development, focusing on finding the fun and building systems and mechanics before adding art. With the game's launch imminent, Gerhard recognizes the competitive market, but remains confident that Ascendant will find its audience and grow from there. The studio's chief marketing officer, Murray Pannell, shares this optimism, citing the game's advanced features and the team's passion for creating something special. Gerhard concludes that players will be surprised by the game's quality, perceiving it as a big AAA production despite being developed by an independent studio.