The open-world game Sable once again took center stage at Summer Game Fest 2021 with a 7-minute-long presentation during the Tribeca Games Spotlight stream. Shedworks, the two-person development team working on this upcoming indie game, took the opportunity to discuss its focus and inspirations for the project.
It probably won't surprise gamers to learn that the look and world of Sable were inspired by the art of comic books – specifically, the work of Jean Henri Gaston Giraud under the penname Moebius, the Belgian comic The Adventures of Tintin, and the beautiful worlds created by Studio Ghibli movies. From the bright colors to the simple shapes to the expressive design of the titular protagonist, everything about Sable has its roots in comic books and animation. However, the game's vast desert world comes together into new and unfamiliar shapes that promise a unique coming of age adventure.
Sable will focus on a young girl leaving home for the first time. The world she ventures out into is covered in desert, but that doesn't mean it's empty or uninhabited – in fact, it's crawling with life, if players know where to look. Gamers will guide protagonist Sable on her coming of age journey to experience the world, meet people, and ultimately decide what she wants to devote her life to. On the way, she'll run, climb, drive, and glide her way across a huge world of rolling sand dunes, towering cliffs, and abandoned architecture. Climbing appears to play an especially large role as Sable players will be able to climb most surfaces, like in Breath of the Wild.
In this world, choosing one's vocation is a big deal, as the inhospitable environment has forced people to find ways to survive together. Sable's travels will take her to many different societies built around different experiences of the same environment. Unlike fellow indie game Salt and Sacrifice, Sable will not feature any real danger. Instead of combat, the game will be focused on the concept of exploration. Shedworks has announced that every design decision which can be connected to that central focus of exploration will be, meaning that players will have a lot to discover about the world of Sable.
Sable received an official release date during the Summer Game Fest Kickoff live event yesterday, during which indie rock bang Japanese Breakfast performed "Glider," a haunting song from the game's soundtrack. According to Shedworks, the soundtrack of Sable has been there from the very beginning and has played a large role in shaping the direction of the game as well.
Sable is due out on September 22nd, 2021, and will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X.