French game developer, Asobo Studio, recently fueled speculations with multiple job postings. The fans of the critically acclaimed A Plague Tale series are elated, as the recent hiring activity seems to imply the development of another chapter in the series.
Asobo’s LinkedIn post revealed that they were on the hunt for several professionals, including a Senior Game Designer, a VFX Artist, a Senior AI Programmer, and a Senior Gameplay Animator for their Plague Team. This team appears to be built specifically for the Plague Tale games, and these roles indicate a project in the early stages of pre-production.
These rumblings carry more weight as they emerge in the wake of A Plague Tale: Requiem’s success. Released in October last year, Requiem rapidly attracted an audience of over a million within a month, securing several accolades at The Game Awards 2022. Despite these victories, the game also endured criticisms of performance issues, much to the chagrin of fans. Nevertheless, the overwhelmingly positive reception seems to have tipped the scale for the future of the Plague Tale series.
Before Requiem’s release, developers voiced their hesitation about continuing the franchise, citing the audience’s reaction as the deciding factor. The fans have spoken, and Asobo appears to be listening.
A modern setting was hinted at by Requiem’s post-credit scene. The scene reveals a newborn in what appears to be a hospital, a departure from the series’ historical settings. Both A Plague Tale: Innocence and A Plague Tale: Requiem is set in 14th-century France, during the Hundred Years War. An eight-century leap forward could offer a fresh landscape for the narrative-driven action-adventure stealth game.
Not to mention, the global pandemic is already over by now, so Asobo Studio won’t risk a modern A Plague Tale game that would hit too close to home, or so to speak.
The third installment could see a narrative focused on a parent’s efforts to protect themselves and their children set in the middle of a modern rat plague, incorporating modern elements such as firearms, electricity, and scavenging in abandoned houses.
Despite the encouraging signs and excitement, the details remain hazy. Asobo Studio is working on a separate AAA project using cloud-based technologies, and they are hiring for the Microsoft Flight Simulator project. It’s plausible that significant news about a third Plague Tale game may not emerge for a few years.
In any case, the narrative thread of the A Plague Tale series continues to weave its captivating spell, and wherever the story leads next, it’s clear that the loyal fans will eagerly follow.
Whether diving back into the world of the 14th-century plague or going back even further for a prequel or facing a brand new pestilence in modern times, the future of the A Plague Tale series remains a thrilling mystery.
