The Oddworld franchise made its debut in 1997 with Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee and quickly gained a following of players who were smitten with the titular Mudokon slave and his attempt to escape from the RuptureFarms meat processing plant. A sequel, Abe’s Exoddus, followed in 1998 and enjoyed equal success. The upcoming Oddworld: Soulstorm is a reimagining of that sequel and will see special attention on PlayStation 5.
Developer Oddworld Inhabitant’s Oddworld: Soulstorm was first revealed through a press release in 2016 and has since been dubbed a tentpole title for the PS5. Aside from some forays onto PC and Nintendo consoles, the Oddworld series has had a lasting relationship with Sony. That holds true for Oddworld: Soulstorm, which will be released on PS4, PS5, and PC as an Epic Game Store exclusive on April 6, 2021.
For this reason, it’s not surprising that Oddworld: Soulstorm will make use of some of the PS5’s next-gen quality-of-life enhancements, namely Activity Cards, which divide a game up into chunks or activities. Players can jump directly to specific levels or locations from the PS5 home screen and, if they become stuck while playing, gamers can also access tips and walkthrough videos without exiting the game.
Activity Cards also provide other useful tidbits for gamers. As players progress through a game, the PS5’s Activity Cards will change to display updated information, such as the number of collectibles found in a certain level or the percentage remaining in a current mission. This provides a streamlined way to access various areas in a game, more effectively trophy hunt, and save time. It’s important to note that an active PlayStation Plus membership is required to use Activity Cards.
Oddworld: Soulstorm, while a reboot of Abe’s Exoddus, tells a completely new story that’s inspired by the original. A direct sequel of 2014’s Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty, the game features a “big visual and cinematic leap aiming to break new ground.” Once again, Abe will set out to free his fellow Mudokons from enslavement, crafting and customizing weapons as he ventures into terrifying new locales.
Keeping in line with the franchise’s longstanding association with Sony and PlayStation, Oddworld: Soulstorm will be one of April’s free PS5 PlayStation Plus titles when it releases. This is a noteworthy event because the majority of games only get added to PS Plus after having been on the market for a year or so. Granted, it will only be available for PS5 owners, so PS4 players will still need to shell out for a copy, but considering April’s other free PS Plus titles are Days Gone and Zombie Army 4: Dead War, there’s seemingly not much to complain about.
Oddworld: Soulstorm will be released on PC, PS4, and PS5 on April 6, 2021.
Sources: Oddworld: Soulstorm, Gematsu
