I had the opportunity to attend the Discord presentation of the new action adventure 1348 Ex Voto, a game by the Italian studio Sedleo, which has only about fifteen members. The developers showed us the first ten minutes of the game, and then answered questions. Here's what I found out, and what an impression the game left!
Plague, honor and unusual friendships
The action takes place in the 14th century, at a time when the plague was ravaging Europe, specifically Italy. The main character is Aeta, a girl from a wealthy family whose social status gave her access to combat and knight training, a luxury normally reserved for men. The plague took away her parents, and her only support is Bianca, her best friend. The developers immediately drew a parallel with Arya Stark, because Aeta shares that combination of youthful idealism, honor and fighting determination.
The game begins tensely: Aeta watches the city smoke. He rushes towards the ruins in a panic, looking for Bianca. Their relationship is the center of the story: Aeta is a noblewoman, and Bianca is a commoner, and this dynamic, as the developers say, will be "strange and complex". When asked about the romance, the developers just laughed and said: "We won't talk about it yet." Their relationship is obviously deep, but it is still unknown if they will get a romantic element.
Inspirations: Last of Us, Plague Tale, Hellblade
The tone of the game is clearly defined: cinematic, emotional and linear. The Last of Us served as a template for level design and pacing, while Plague Tale: Innocence i Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice were the inspiration for the atmosphere and the way the wide-angle camera emphasizes the intimacy of the scenes. There are no classic side quests. The game follows a tightly directed narrative, with occasional corners to explore. The developers aim for around seven hours of gameplay.
Realistic fencing and stance system
The conflicts are conceived as intense 1v1 duels, with an emphasis on the authenticity and realism of medieval swordplay, based on the principles of historical European martial arts. Aeta has two stances: a fast stance, with one-handed attacks and faster dodges, and a slower one, with a sword in both hands, with stronger blocks and greater stability. The goal is to break through the opponent's guard, stun him and deliver a series of blows in that short window. Stances change fluidly, almost like a dance, and promise tactical depth. Three levels of difficulty are planned: story, normal and hard.
During the presentation, I noticed that the enemies seemed static, as if they were waiting for Aeta to attack them. The developers replied that these were early, poorly organized bandits, and that the AI would be much more aggressive later on. "We're still polishing the combat, these are early builds," they clarified.
Light RPG elements
Although primarily an action adventure, Ex Voto has some light RPG mechanics. The trinket system allows you to equip items that give different buffs, while the only weapon remains a sword that can be upgraded, unlocking new combos and skills. There is no change of armor or skins, the focus is left on the story.
Technical side and presentation
The game is being developed in Unreal Engine 5. Several frame drops were visible during the stream, but considering that it is a Discord transmission with typical compression and 1080p limitation, it is difficult to assess the actual performance. The authors are aware of Unreal's reputation and emphasize that they are intensively working on optimization for PC. They do not strive for photorealism, but for an author's atmosphere, a story set in the villages and landscapes of Italy, where they themselves come from. We will move from mountainous regions and forests, to the ruins and suburbs of Rome, through a world where the plague is a silent, ever-present actor that moves everything around it, but never takes center stage. Great emphasis is also placed on the music, which, as they say, will accompany the emotional highs and lows.
The roles are played by Alby Baldwin (Aeta) and Jennifer English (Bianca), known as Shadowheart from Baldur's Gate 3. According to the team, the actors "stepped out of their typical boxes" and found themselves in the role. When asked about "female chivalry" and possible accusations of "wokeness", the developers said: "We knew that question would come. But this is the story we wanted to tell and we stand behind it."
Conclusion – a medieval indie that smacks of ambition
Ex Voto is scheduled to release in 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. I'm cautiously optimistic about this game. I love medieval settings, and in the conversation with the team you can clearly see the passion and self-confidence. If they manage to realize everything they imagined, and additionally iron out the performance of the Unreal engine, we could get an extremely interesting title, atmospheric, personal and different from the typical "AAA" formulas.
