Steelrising Beta Happening in August

There are quite a few video games that present an alternate version of real events to play through. Some of the most well known are the Fallout franchise, which takes place in a United States dealing with the aftermath of a nuclear attack in 2077; the later entries of the Wolfenstein series in which the Nazis won World War 2; and of course the Assassin’s Creed games with their storylines that diverge greatly from their real-world historical settings. Other titles, like the upcoming Steelrising, have not yet made their mark in the gaming world but seem well positioned to do so.

Developed by Spiders, Steelrising is set in an alternate history of the French Revolution in 1789’s Paris. In this version of the story, Louix XVI is known as the Clockwork King and commands an army of automatons that is putting a violent end to the civilian uprising. As a female robot named Aegis, it is up to the player character to singlehandedly combat the King’s legions in this action RPG that has been called a faithful tribute to FromSoftware’s Bloodborne.

The game is now available for preorder on all platforms, and the developer has also announced that anybody who purchases Steelrising before its release on September 8 will receive exclusive access to the closed beta that begins on August 25. Additionally, preordering the game will earn players the Marie Antoinette cosmetic pack for Aegis. There will be two editions of Steelrising available for purchase, Standard and the Bastille Edition, which includes “The Discus Chain” exclusive weapon and “The Secrets of Cagliostro” DLC that’s already slated for an early November release.

The protagonist of Steelrising, Aegis, was introduced in a PlayStation Blog at the end of May 2022, and fans were able to learn a bit this interesting character’s backstory. Before becoming a savior of the Revolution, the automaton served as a dancer to the court, and she has now become the bodyguard of Queen Marie Antoinette.

The fairly unique setting of Steelrising could elevate its gameplay, given that the French Revolution hasn’t often been touched on in video games. And as a sleek robot, Aegis should offer up some fun combat abilities, with an increased range of motion and even aerial gameplay. She will also be somewhat customizable, with players able to adjust her facial features, body material, and even her wig.

While Steelrising offers up a Souls-like action role-playing experience, the developer’s other recent RPG, 2019’s Greedfall draws to mind BioWare titles like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Set in a fantasy world reminiscent of the early 17th century, that game features a highly detailed world in which players must use diplomacy, stealth, and combat to survive on a newly discovered island. There are also a variety of characters – each with their own personalities, class, and backstory – who will team up with the player and can be romanced.