Gamers might be in for some surprising cameos in Immortals of Aveum, an all-new, sorcery-based action game being published by Electronic Arts. The company has been on a roll as of late, supporting up-and-coming projects under its EA Originals label, and this particular title also has some important names behind it. Immortals of Aveum is the debut title of Ascendant Studios, an independent team formed by former developers of popular AAA franchises like Call of Duty and Dead Space. It's this experience, along with its all-star cast, which may make Immortals of Aveum distinct among other 2023 releases.
At its core, Immortals of Aveum is a single-player FPS game that promises cinematic storytelling within a fantasy universe embroiled in war. The Everwar, a magical conflict between ancient kingdoms, provides the impulse to bring players into a different kind of backdrop than most FPS fans may be used to. Its weapons seem to go against the shooter grain as well, forgoing firearms in favor of spells that shift and manipulate reality. So far, Ascendant Studios has shown an intriguing premise that will hopefully become even more powerful through its characters.
The High-Profile Performances Behind Immortals of Aveum
In Immortals of Aveum, players enter the role of Jak - a spellcaster who is recruited by the Lucium Kingdom after discovering his affinity for magic. Jak is portrayed by Darren Barnet and is an actor most famous for leading roles in the Netflix television seriesNever Have I Ever as well as its Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles animated series. It'll be interesting to see how Jak develops his abilities over the course of the game, as he's been described as somewhat of a rookie in the ranks of Lucium. Darren Barnet appears well-equipped to carry the role of a bold hero learning the ropes.
Another notable cast member joining the fight against the tyrannical Rasharn kingdom is Gina Torres as General Kirkan. Known for playing Zoe in Firefly and the space western series' follow-up film Serenity, Gina Torres is a noteworthy talent that should excite fans of sci-fi and fantasy. Additionally, she's appeared in The Matrix franchise as the character Cas, so Torres might act as a recognizable face to mentor Jak as part of Lucium. With respect to her in-game character, it's said that General Kirkan is a veteran of the Everwar and leads as the Grand Magnus of the Immortals.
Speaking of other allies in Lucium, Jak's field commander Zendara is a character who appears to be quite prominent in Immortals of Aveum's recent reveal trailer. Lily Cowles, who some may remember for playing Helen Park in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, plays Zendara and will likely embody a stronger, less welcoming presence to balance out the roster. Zendara is reported to be less enthusiastic about Jak being part of the team and is a master of red magic - spells that harness extreme forms of energy.
Finally, Devyn enters the fold as one of the Immortals' key members. He is played by Antonio Aakeel, a British Actor who recently starred in the BAFTA-nominated Slow Horses Apple TV + thriller series. Aakeel's experience playing characters in comedies and dramas could really let Devyn shine as one of the more lighthearted champions in the game, being scholarly and showing a special curiosity in the protagonist Jak's humble origins. Overall, with all these stars and more contributing to this action-packed adventure, Immortals of Aveum has the potential to surprise gamers later this year. The spectacle of spellcasters summoning fire and fury across colorful battlefields is exciting within itself, but the talent behind it might also make this new IP feel authentic.
Immortals of Aveum launches July 20 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
