Hi there. My identify is Julián, and I’m the lead developer of Despelote – a slice-of-life journey about childhood and soccer in Quito, Ecuador in the yr 2001. Myself and the crew are pleased to cease by the Xbox Wire at this time to announce that our recreation is coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2024. We’re additionally capable of announce at this time that Despelote will probably be a part of Tribeca’s 2023 Festival Selection and that the sport will probably be revealed by Panic, who helped deliver Untitled Goose Game and Firewatch to the world.
While Despelote could be very a lot a recreation about soccer, you gained’t actually end up taking part in a full soccer match and even needing to grasp the foundations. Instead,our recreation focuses on the inherent enjoyable of being a child, simply kicking round a soccer ball with your folks whereas you’re out and about, speaking about your day at college… and perhaps annoying your neighbors in the method.
It’s the yr 2001, and Ecuador is on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup. Ecuador had by no means certified for the World Cup earlier than, and as a nation simply recovering from a large monetary disaster, the thought of qualifying has stuffed the neighborhood with hope and optimism. Learning in regards to the individuals of Quito as you play soccer with your folks, and feeling that power out of your neighborhood as you discover is what Despelote is all about.
Together with my pal and artist Sebastián Valbuena we got down to make a recreation that isn’t solely visually distinctive, but additionally one which communicates a sturdy and particular sense of place. This is partly as a result of Despelote is a semi-autobiographical recreation, as I grew up in Quito, Ecuador round this time, so it was necessary to me that we get it proper. You additionally play as a younger boy named Julian, however he’s circuitously a one-for-one mirror of me!
To give gamers a true image of Ecuador, we took images and recorded audio throughout journeys to Quito that are actually used in the sport for objects resembling constructing textures and conversations you’ll hear as you discover the streets. Sebastián can also be doing an unbelievable job of hand drawing our characters, in addition to the animals you’ll run into throughout your time in Quito. The recreation can also be absolutely voice acted in Spanish, with localized subtitles relying in your desire.
So that’s Despelote: a bittersweet and generally dreamy semi-autobiographical story about how soccer can impression a place and its tradition. We hope you cease by and go to Quito when it’s launched on Xbox in 2024. ¡Garcias, y cuidense!
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