All Confirmed Features for Eternal Strands to Date

When Yellow Brick Games was established in 2020 by industry veterans from BioWare and Ubisoft, including Mike Laidlaw of Dragon Age fame and Thomas Giroux from The Crew, the gaming community was immediately intrigued by what their new venture, Eternal Strands, might offer. Expectations are high given the pedigree of its founders, but this relatively smaller studio seems to be harnessing its agility to focus its creative vision. Their ambitious project, Eternal Strands, is set to make its debut in the first quarter of 2025, roughly five years after the studio’s inception.

In the game, you step into the shoes of Brynne, a Weaver on a quest to reclaim her people’s ancestral homeland. As a descendant of the Enclave—an ancient civilization that withdrew from the world years ago—Brynne’s journey unveils the mystery of a once-thriving magical hub now lying dormant. This sets the stage for a rich fantasy tale laced with intriguing lore. Visually, the game might remind you of Immortals Fenyx Rising, another Ubisoft endeavor, but it thrives on its unique action-adventure gameplay design.

### Gameplay Features of Eternal Strands

The game invites you to join the adventure with your Weaver Band, who support your mission with their inherent skills. The game notably focuses on comprehensive gear customization, the ability to scale nearly any surface, and the use of elemental and kinetic magic through The Mantle. Add to this a dynamic day/night cycle and intense weather conditions, and you’ve got a true sandbox experience. The game embraces the action-adventure genre with Unreal Engine 5 at its core and will be accessible on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a day-one inclusion on Xbox Game Pass.

### Combat and Magic in Eternal Strands

Brynne’s combat style is an engaging blend of her magical prowess and environmental interaction, all centered around The Mantle—the powerful artifact she wields. She can command Frost, Flame, and Kinetic magic to incinerate, freeze, or blast away foes using the environment itself as a weapon. Imagine hurling a burned tree or encasing enemies in ice; this is what makes the physics-based combat particularly captivating.

Facing larger-than-life threats, like the towering Arks, Brynne can not only fight them but also scale their colossal forms, echoing gameplay elements reminiscent of Dragon’s Dogma or Shadow of the Colossus. The combat feels like a lively puzzle where each encounter demands a playful manipulation of magical abilities and the terrain. And as you conquer these formidable foes, you’ll collect Strands to upgrade Brynne’s abilities, enhancing her magical arsenal.

Eternal Strands also offers a robust system for personalizing Brynne’s combat gear. This ensures that beyond just looking fabulous, her equipment significantly boosts her combat capabilities. You’ll have a full suite at your disposal, including armor for various body parts, a selection of weapons, and a consumable belt for those crucial healing items.

### Exploration and the World of Eternal Strands

This vibrant world encourages exploration beyond battling fearsome magical constructs. Inspired by beloved titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the environment invites you to scale anything you see and craft your own path using magical elements—melting obstacles, creating ice passages, and kinetically launching Brynne herself across the landscape. Who wouldn’t want to use kinetic magic to send themselves flying, even if it risks a spectacular fall?

Moreover, the game’s vow of an extreme weather system will likely introduce gameplay dynamics where environmental conditions, such as extreme heat or severe cold, influence Brynne’s magical prowess. While further details are pending, it seems logical that various elements will either augment or hinder abilities, adding another strategic layer to exploration and combat.

### Companions in Eternal Strands

Supporting Brynne on her journey is her Weaver Band, a crucial ensemble based back at camp. While not directly accompanying Brynne in the field, these characters—from Oria the bird to humanoid figures like a green, tusked creature laboring at the forge—serve as vital support and contribute to Brynne’s overarching mission. They might not be joining her in the thick of combat like party members in Dragon Age, but they form the backbone of her preparation and progression.

At the close of each day/night cycle, or whenever you decide Brynne needs a break, you’ll return to these companions to craft, upgrade, and deepen your interaction with the game’s world.

All things considered, Eternal Strands seems poised to deliver a compelling blend of narrative intrigue and immersive gameplay. With its well-crafted mechanics and imaginative lore, it promises an adventure that deeply rewards exploration and ingenuity.