Canadian indie developer (and winner of the 2018 Ubisoft Indie Series Special Prize), Falling Squirrel, just announced that their audio action-adventure game, The Vale, is coming to Steam this August. Sure, lots of games come out every day, but this game is a bit different from the everyday release.
The Vale is a "deeply immersive, audio-focused interactive entertainment experience" that's not only just pandering for the visually impaired, but also offers a "highly compelling out-of-the-box experience, literally eyes-shut, for sighted players."
Having heavily consulted with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) during development, The Vale forgoes traditional visual design and instead relies upon binaural audio technology, haptic feedback, and triple-A quality storytelling to deliver a gaming experience thoroughly enjoyable for both sighted and visually impaired gamers. This is definitely a game you are going to want some badass headphones for.
Players will run through an emotional story of the second-to-the-throne; blind from birth and newly exiled to the edges of the kingdom as the heir apparent elder brother is crowned king. Eager for this break from their sheltered existence, the hero experiences their first taste of adventure as they travel to the borderlands, only to be cut short by hordes of invading troops, ravaging the land and heading towards the capital. Before he knows it, the hero is stranded in hostile lands, alone and defenseless. With the help of a local shepherd, players must master various skills and branching magic to survive the treacherous road home.
The Vale has a new trailer (below) and releases in August.
