On October 25, 2024, Swedish game development studio Liquid Swords dropped a bombshell on the gaming community by sharing the first in-game screenshots of their highly anticipated open-world action RPG.
The studio, founded by Christofer Sundberg—former head of Avalanche Studios—revealed the images through their official X account, confirming they were real. What followed was an eruption of excitement, with gamers in awe of the photorealistic visuals.
Photorealistic Graphics Powered by Unreal Engine 5
The upcoming game, which has yet to be named, is being developed using the cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5, marking a significant shift for Sundberg’s team. Avalanche Studios, known for titles like Just Cause, Mad Max, and Rage 2, traditionally used their in-house Apex engine. But for this ambitious project, Liquid Swords has opted for Unreal Engine 5 to tap into its next-gen capabilities.
Fredrik Lönn, the Technical Director at Liquid Swords, stated that the decision to use Unreal Engine 5 came down to its track record in producing AAA games with high-quality visuals and its smooth integration with other tools. The images showcase environments that blur the line between gaming and reality, with incredibly detailed textures and lighting effects made possible by Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite and Lumen technologies.
Nanite virtualized geometry allows for millions of triangles in each scene, rendering objects with incredible detail even at extreme distances. Meanwhile, Lumen’s real-time global illumination system ensures that lighting in the game is dynamic and reacts to changes in the environment, further enhancing immersion.
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A Rich History: From Avalanche Studios to Liquid Swords
Liquid Swords was founded in December 2020 with one clear mission: to push the boundaries of game development. Christofer Sundberg, a gaming industry veteran since the 90s, wanted to create a studio that fostered innovation through collaboration and creative freedom. His vision attracted significant attention, and in 2022, Liquid Swords secured a major investment from NetEase Games, fueling their ambitious plans.
Under Sundberg’s leadership, the studio is focusing on developing large-scale, narrative-driven games. The upcoming open-world action RPG looks to be the culmination of those efforts, promising a single-player experience that’s both visually stunning and deeply immersive.
A Glimpse Into the Game: What the Screenshots Reveal
The debut screenshots give us our first glimpse into a game world filled with detail and realism. While the exact plot and characters remain shrouded in mystery, the environments tease a world brimming with exploration opportunities. The visuals depict urban landscapes, natural environments, and gritty, atmospheric settings that seem perfect for a game inspired by the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series.
Fans have already begun speculating about the gameplay. Given Sundberg’s past work on open-world titles like Just Cause and Mad Max, it’s likely this game will feature a large, explorable world filled with dynamic events and a focus on player-driven narratives. The inclusion of player choice and consequence—key elements hinted at by Sundberg—suggests that Liquid Swords is aiming for a rich, story-driven experience where decisions can impact the game’s world and its characters.
Why Liquid Swords Chose Unreal Engine 5
Switching to Unreal Engine 5 was a strategic move that opens up new possibilities for Liquid Swords. Unreal Engine 5 is built to handle the demands of modern open-world games, making it the perfect choice for a title of this scale. Its Nanite system allows developers to work with detailed assets without compromising performance, and the Lumen system enhances the game’s atmosphere with realistic lighting and reflections.
This engine’s flexibility also supports rapid iteration and experimentation—key factors for a studio like Liquid Swords, which prides itself on creative freedom. In essence, Unreal Engine 5 empowers the developers to bring their ambitious vision to life while ensuring the game runs smoothly across platforms.
The Anticipation Builds: What Gamers Can Expect
The gaming community has reacted with widespread excitement since the screenshots were unveiled. The realism of the visuals has garnered attention, with many eagerly awaiting further details about the game’s narrative and gameplay mechanics. Early feedback points to high expectations for Liquid Swords’ entry into the open-world action RPG genre.
According to Sundberg, the game will feature a strong narrative, giving players the freedom to shape their journey through meaningful choices. This aligns with his desire to create “experiences that last,” where gameplay evolves based on player decisions. The depth of the story and the potential for exploration in a beautifully crafted world will likely be key selling points.
What We Know So Far About Liquid Swords’ New Game
Although Liquid Swords is keeping most of the details about the game under wraps, here’s what we know based on the latest reveal:
- Photorealistic Graphics: The game will feature highly detailed, lifelike environments created using Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite and Lumen technologies.
- Open-World Exploration: Players will be able to roam a vast, open world filled with opportunities for adventure and discovery.
- Narrative-Driven Gameplay: The game promises a rich story where player choices will have meaningful consequences.
- Advanced Technology: Unreal Engine 5’s ability to handle large, open-world environments and support high-quality visual effects is key to the game’s ambitious scope.
The in-game screenshots shared on October 25, 2024, offer just a taste of what’s to come, but they’ve already set a high bar for visual quality. As development progresses, more details are expected to emerge, including the game’s title, story, and gameplay features.
What Makes This Game Stand Out
Liquid Swords is stepping into a highly competitive market, but their use of Unreal Engine 5 and Sundberg’s reputation for creating compelling open-world games gives them a unique edge. This new project could set a new benchmark for what’s possible in terms of game design, storytelling, and technical achievement.
The studio’s emphasis on player choice and consequence is a refreshing take on the open-world formula, offering a more personalized experience. Combined with the visually stunning world they’re building, this could very well be one of the most anticipated titles of the coming years.
Conclusion: A Game to Watch in 2025
Liquid Swords has captivated the gaming world with the debut images of their new open-world action RPG. The photorealistic visuals, powered by Unreal Engine 5, have already set this game apart as a potential game-changer. With Christofer Sundberg at the helm, the studio is primed to deliver an unforgettable experience, blending cutting-edge technology with innovative game design.
As we wait for more details, one thing is clear: this upcoming game has the potential to become a landmark title, combining stunning visuals with a compelling narrative that offers players freedom, choice, and immersion in a world that feels alive. Keep your eyes on this one—it’s shaping up to be a must-play for fans of open-world games.
Expect more updates from Liquid Swords as development progresses, but for now, these screenshots have done more than enough to build serious hype for 2025’s most exciting new game.
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