A multiplayer turning point for Quantic Dream
Known for successful narrative games such as Detroit: Become Human, Heavy Rain or Beyond: Two Souls, Quantic Dream is making a bold and risky shift, to say the least, with Spellcasters Chronicles. This new project, developed between Paris and Montreal, marks the studio’s first competitive and multiplayer game. It combines real-time strategy, third-person action and community storytelling, all in an original universe where magic takes center stage.
We’re not going to lie to you: at the time of the unveiling, we were as surprised as you must be reading these lines. Announcing such a project in 2025 after a series of often poorly received big-budget multiplayer game launches, Concord in mind, has something to question. Even more so coming from a studio whose identity is based above all on strong narrative and emotional experiences. For pure Quantic Dream, you will therefore have to wait until the release of Star Wars Eclipse which is still in development.
According to David Cage, founder and president of Quantic Dream, this project represents “ a new chapter in the history of the studio, born from the desire to reinvent itself and offer a new form of interactive experience “. The game will be showcased live for the first time at TwitchCon San Diego, on the official Twitch LAN stage, with live matches, developer interviews and gameplay demos. We explain all the contours of the gameplay to you in detail.
A concept combining strategy and magical chaos
In Spellcasters Chroniclesyou play as “spellcasters”, powerful mages capable of summoning creatures and casting powerful spells. Each game pits two teams of three players against each other in clashes lasting a maximum of 25 minutes. Victory is played by capturing altars and destroying opposing “Lifestones”.
Unlike a classic MOBA, the game focuses on total freedom of movement, with real-time flight mechanics allowing you to fly over the arena to command your troops or adjust your strategy. According to Quantic Dream, this verticality, rarely seen in the genre, adds a new layer of tactics and agility.
Spellcasters are organized into complementary archetypes (healer, tank, or attacker) each with unique skills and a distinct playstyle. An approach which aims to strengthen the cooperative and strategic aspect of gameplay, while leaving room for creativity.
Strategic and scalable deck construction
One of the particularities of Spellcasters Chronicles relies on its strategic deck-building system. You must therefore compose your arsenal from more than 50 spells and invocations divided between seven schools of magic. We are free to adapt our deck according to our playstyle, whether by supporting allies, attacking in force or controlling the battlefield.
The game also introduces Titans, colossal summons capable of turning the tide of a confrontation. These gigantic creatures are chosen in advance and must be triggered at the right time to maximize their impact. This mix between predefined roles and the construction of customizable decks are the elements which promise renewed gameplay in each game and which promotes experimentation, team synergies and even real-time decision-making.
A still unclear narrative
Although the presentation focused exclusively on the gameplay and its details, Quantic Dream discussed a part of the game more in line with their identity. The developers have not explained in detail what this is about and even less illustrated the form that it will take precisely, but Spellcasters Chronicles will offer an evolving narrative component, shaped by the community.
If this narrative dimension will only be introduced after the beta phase, it should allow players to influence the game universe through their collective choices. Each season will feature community votes that impact world history, game rules, and future events. According to Grégoire Diaconu, director of the game, “ Spellcasters Chronicles was born from a desire to tell stories in a new way, by giving players the power to write chapters with multiple hands. »
A fantastic universe inspired by several “magic”
The universe of Spellcasters Chronicles takes place in a world where the gods are dead. During their funeral wake, certain humans discover themselves capable of manipulating an ancestral energy called the Source. Mages, shamans, and sorcerers (now called Spellcasters) emerge from the chaos to shape a new destiny for the world.
This results in different magic skills to trigger on the battlefield. Besides the fighting, it will be possible to build towers, summon skeletal creatures, ogres or dragons, and transform the decor. Each spell, each structure and each summoned monster is designed to offer tactical depth, but also to enrich the spectacular fantasy specific to the game according to the studio.
A first hot opinion on Spellcasters Chronicles
After seeing some gameplay footage presented by the developers, it is undeniable that Spellcasters Chronicles has qualities. The title is based on a visibly solid in-house graphics engineoffers an original summoning mechanic and features particularly impressive Titans on screen. The artistic direction seems quite worked, with varied inspirations and mages with careful design, nevertheless, it is difficult not to make the connection with other games like Valorant which refer to a somewhat generic aspect of the environment. We are also a little afraid of the very high freedom of movement with a risk of fairly confusing duels visually.
However, it remains difficult, at this stage, to be fully enthusiastic about this hybrid proposal between MOBA and team action, despite some ideas capable of distinguishing it from the competition. The competitive free-to-play market is now saturated (recently the future of Firebreak and the craze for Marathon are not in good shape) and the public seems to have had enough of this profusion of service games. Therefore, we can legitimately wonder what place such a project could occupy, especially since historic fans of Quantic Dream risk being confused by such a radical change of direction. Still, we won’t fail to try the title when the beta is available to dig a little deeper.
When will Spellcasters Chronicles be released?
Spellcasters Chronicles will be available free-to-play on PC via Steam, with an economic model oriented towards cosmetic customization. No specific date has been announced, but a closed beta is planned before the end of 2025. Interested players can already register on the official website and join the Discord server to interact with the community and developers.
The full presentation of the game will take place on October 17, 2025 during TwitchCon San Diegowhere Quantic Dream will host demos, exhibition matches with content creators, and a Q&A session with the development team.