Highlights
- Starward Industries' first title, an adaptation of Stanisław Lem's sci-fi novel The Invincible, promises to explore profound philosophical questions in the tradition of grounded, atompunk sci-fi.
- Necroevolution, the evolution of non-living materials, will play an important role in the game, sparking ethical and philosophical inquiries about the boundaries of life and the ethical consideration of machines.
- The concept of necroevolution has topical appeal, as it can be applied to contemporary dilemmas such as AI and technology, raising questions about humanity's responsibility and safety in the face of evolving technology.
On November 6, Starward Industries is launching its first title, an adaptation of polish futurologist Stanisław Lem's 1964 science-fiction novel The Invincible. Starward developers have made their affection for Lem no secret and have stated that working on this specific property was a major draw for many of those joining the studio. The Invincible adaptation promises to explore profound philosophical questions in the grand tradition of grounded, atompunk sci-fi.
Game ZXC spoke with Starward's CEO Marek Markuszewski about Lem's legacy and the impact his concepts had on their "atompunk" adaptation. Of these concepts, necroevolution may be the most interesting. The term refers to the evolution of non-living materials, being extremely significant in the novel version of The Invincible, and the developers have confirmed it will play an important role in the game as well.
Life, But Not as We Know It
Like many influential science fiction writers, Lem's writing defined terms that are still useful for scientific and philosophical discussion. But Markuszewski was understandably coy about delving into necroevolution too deeply prior to the game's launch:
"It's a very important plot element in the game. We can't go into too much detail to avoid spoiling the experience for players, but I can reveal that it's the subject of significant and profound discussions that engage the player."
Necroevolution is an idea that is specifically pertinent to the 'smart dust' and 'grey goo' sci-fi tropes. The seemingly contradictory phrase poses a question all by itself: 'if something can evolve, is it necessarily alive?' That is the premise that kicks Rohan's journey into high gear in the novel, and it'll play some role in Yasna's journey in The Invincible's adaptation. Like any good sci-fi what-if, the question spirals outward into a tree of other ethical and philosophical inquiries, such as 'if machines aren't biologically alive, are they owed the same ethical consideration as biological life?' or, 'if the machines are biologically alive, where should that line be drawn?'
The game's tagline, "Not everything everywhere is for us," is not only a warning about encountering monsters among the stars, but a warning against humanity acting monstrous in the face of life it has yet to fully understand. Many science fiction stories ranging from Ender's Game to Star Wars play with this trope. However, Lem is one of the first authors to reference microscopic machines that self-modify and reproduce long before the term nanotechnology was codified into a household sci-fi trope.
The Topical Appeal of Necroevolution
Necroevolution is a valuable and surprisingly versatile concept that can be applied to today's dilemmas. It could be considered an anti-colonial thought-experiment, asking gamers to consider 'how much does something have to look like us to be treated with respect?' If Starward's adaptation shines through Lem's original intent, questions like these will lie at the heart of experiencing The Invincible.
The concept of Necroevolution can also be applied to more abstract and technological situations. For example, the term can just as easily be applied to AI as it can machinery. If the criteria for necroevolution is the ability to evolve without being bio-organically alive, true-to-sci-fi AI certainly qualify. Necroevolution factors into questions about humanity's responsibility relative to their technology, like 'If humans invent something that can necroevolve, are we responsible for its well-being?' and 'at what point, should we prioritize our safety rather than allowing something to continue to necroevolve?' which are very real concerns. General fears around AI have lasted a long time, and one way or another, it is a technology that is rapidly evolving (to some degree) today.
These are heady topics that could make for an extremely promising gameplay experience. It is encouraging to know that Starward is so thoroughly committed to Lem's vision, and familiar with other games that are doing narrative-driven exploration correctly. Apart from Lem, Starward has cited Road 96, Firewatch, and Alien: Isolation as important influences on the project.
The Invincible
The Invincible is a story-driven adventure game, adapted from the hard sci-fi works of Stanislaw Lem. Players will explore Regis III as Yasna, use tools to search for her missing crew, and face unforeseen threats.
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- November 6, 2023
- Developer
- Starward Industries
- Publisher(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
