During the highly anticipated Apple Event that took place today, a sequel was announced for the point and click adventure game Beneath a Steel Sky, which was originally released way back in 1994 by Revolution Software. The sequel is being called Beyond a Steel Sky and it was announced that it’ll be coming to the brand new Apple gaming service, Apple Arcade.
Beyond a Steel Sky will be bundled into the new subscription service that Apple is creating, but will it be available for other platforms too? What exactly is Beyond a Steel Sky, and why is it such a big deal? What’s Beneath a Steel Sky about? We’ve got a complete rundown for you about when you can expect a Beyond a Steel Sky release date as well as all information we’ve got surrounding the game at this time.
When can I play Beyond a Steel Sky?
A release date wasn’t given for Beyond a Steel Sky, so we can’t say for sure when it is coming. However, since it is coming as a part of Apple Arcade, which is launching this Fall, we presume we will see it later this year with the full launch of Apple Arcade. However, that is merely a guess at this point, as an official release date was not given. It’s been a long time coming, however.
What platforms with Beyond a Steel Sky be released on?
The only currently announced platform for Beyond a Steel Sky is of course Apple Arcade, which means the game will be playable on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Macs. Apple has said that the Apple Arcade titles will be exclusive to Apple mobile devices and the Arcade subscription service, but that doesn’t mean it won’t release on other platforms. A PC release seems certain, and a release on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch is entirely possible too.
What is Beyond a Steel Sky and why isn’t it Beneath a Steel Sky 2?
There really weren’t many details given surrounding Beyond a Steel Sky, so we will have to wait a bit to learn more. It’s seemingly a third-person adventure in a cel-shaded graphics style, and the last game’s main character Robert Foster will return. It will apparently feature fully 3D environments that the player can stroll through and interact with, with full camera control, and Everyone’s Gone to the Rapture was cited as an inspiration.
Back in 2004, a sequel was rumored to be coming, and even appeared as a potential stretch goal for the Broken Sword 5 Kickstarter, but despite that game being funded the tally never reached that high. There have been constant rumors that Revolution was working on Beneath a Steel Sky 2 but it never really saw the light of day.
However, as to why Beyond a Steel Sky isn’t specifically Beneath a Steel Sky 2, Variety has an interview with studio head Charles Cecil, where he says that the studio “very deliberately decided not to call it Beneath a Steel Sky 2.” As to why, Cecil adds that “people associate it with that point-and-click style,” and that “we want people to be able to approach this game without even having heard of the original. It’s a continuation of both the themes and story, but we find that the themes are more important.” Neverthless, if you are a fan of classic adventure games, then this is probably one you’re going to want to keep your eye on, even if it’s not actually point-and-click.
What is Beneath a Steel Sky?
Beneath a Steel Sky is a point and click adventure game that came to Windows, Linux, and Mac way back in 1994. The game follows the main character, Robert Foster, who is stranded in a wasteland, known as “The Gap.” He is fighting to survive everyday life in the corrupted world he has found himself in. Beneath a Steel Sky was received very well by both critics and the public and has become a highly critically acclaimed game.
The game featured artwork by renowned comics artist Dave Gibbons, who’s probably best known for Watchmen, and who’s back for the sequel. The game was released for free on PC in 2003 on the ScummVM emulator, which Cecil cites as a big reason why the game still has so many fans. “It was the only game that a lot of people knew about that was free at the time. We weren’t trying to, but we got a lot of interest.”
In 2009, Beneath a Steel Sky received a remastered iOS version, which was also received well, so it is no surprise that it is getting a sequel on Apple Arcade.
