WEATHER FACTORY ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC DEMO OF TRAVELLING AT NIGHT, COMING TO STEAM ON AUG 10TH

Weather Factory Announces Public Demo for Travelling at Night

London-based developer Weather Factory has announced that a public demo for its upcoming narrative CRPG, Travelling at Night, will be available on Steam starting August 10th.

To coincide with the announcement, Weather Factory has placed its previous title, BOOK OF HOURS, and all associated DLC, on a Steam Daily Deal. The 60% discount, which begins today at 5:00 PM GMT (7:00 PM CEST / 10:00 AM PDT), represents the deepest price reduction for the game to date.

A New Narrative CRPG

Travelling at Night is described as a combat-free, choices-matter role-playing game. It is the latest project from the creators behind Cultist Simulator, BOOK OF HOURS, SUNLESS SEA, and FALLEN LONDON. The studio, established in 2017 by Alexis Kennedy and Lottie Bevan, aims to produce narrative-focused games with a distinct indie aesthetic. According to the developers, the game is being crafted in the tradition of isometric titles such as Disco Elysium, Planescape: Torment, and Fallout 1+2.

The game is set in a fictional version of post-World War II Europe, where the “golden Incorporates” of the USA are engaged in a Cold War against the “star-touched Ministries” of the USSR. Players take on the role of a character who, twelve years prior in the Cracow winter, was “hollowed out” by parasitic creatures known as Worms. The narrative follows the player’s return to a world where their past remains a significant, unresolved presence.

What to Expect in the Demo

The upcoming demo provides players with the game’s Introduction chapter. Participants will be able to select from various character backgrounds and skills before exploring the town of Antibes and the “Sanitarium Aujourd’hui.” The demo serves as the starting point for the broader journey of the game, allowing players to engage with inhabitants and begin the process of character development.

While the game is combat-free, the developers note that there are many ways for a character to perish, emphasizing that there are “worse things than death” in this setting. The gameplay loop involves roaming ruins and conversing with NPCs to find “Memories and Signs,” which are then used to grow the player’s skills and passions.

Character Development and Mechanics

The title features an extensive skill system, utilizing sixteen distinct abilities. These include:

• Dignity: Necessary for physicians who require professional credibility.
• Spivvery: A method for securing resources in a difficult environment.
• Sophistication: A trait useful for writers.
• Skolekosophy: Defined as the study of things that should not be studied.

Players must also choose their career and primary passions, such as becoming an exorcist driven by Sorrow, a stage magician motivated by Appetite, or a physician guided by Curiosity. These choices impact how players interact with the game’s factions, including the Incorporates, the Ministries, and the “remortals of the old order.”

The game is designed to offer multiple endings based on the player’s choices regarding alliances, consequences, and ultimate destinations. Decisions made throughout the game are intended to show the impact of different motives across multiple playthroughs.

While the public demo is scheduled for August 10th, the studio noted that a closed beta version is currently available by invitation for those interested in early access.

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