While the Ukrainian studio is somewhat occupied by fighting Nacon over The Sinking City, they continue to develop the next Sherlock Holmes game, too.

We previously kept an eye on how the re-released Steam version of The Sinking City wasn’t the same (lacked DLC, modified a few things, Frogwares did not give Nacon permission…). Still, Frogwares doesn’t stop developing the first chapter in Sherlock Holmes’ story, and we can now see some gameplay of it, courtesy of IGN. We wouldn’t spoil anything, but we would like to point two things out. One, the facial animations are subpar. Two, Sherlock here seems to resemble Connor from Quantic Dream’s Detroit: Become Human…

Back in May, we wrote about the game when it was announced, so we’ll quote ourselves: „As Sherlock, your legacy is written by the decisions you make in this open-world detective adventure. Deception, violence, and deduction are just a few resources in your arsenal—your mysterious companion and sounding board, Jon, is another. Whether you choose brute force to solve problems or stay one step ahead of your enemies by using your wits to spot vulnerabilities, you decide what each situation demands as you hone your investigative skills. It’s time to confront your past so you can become the legend you’re destined to be.

As a cavalier young Sherlock on the precipice of adulthood, you’ll earn your reputation in a way no game or story has explored before. We’ve never seen the youthful arrogance and naivete of the man before the legend—now you’re living it. You never know where your next clue will come from. Explore and exploit the entire city in your pursuit of truth, using clues, rumours, disguises, tags, and pinned evidence to build a solid case within your mind palace. Weapons might help you in a pinch, but there’s something to be said for style—and you have it in spades. Spot enemy vulnerabilities with your brilliant observation skills, or exploit the environment to take someone down while keeping your own hands clean. Before John Watson, there was a different Jon – your best and only friend. But who is he?

Set in the 19th century, the vibrant island in the Mediterranean promises anything but paradise. Political corruption and crime run rampant while the islanders cling to tradition and eschew outsiders, making your job even more difficult. There are two sides to every story, and the proud islanders have their ideas about truth and justice. It’s up to you to decide whether uncovering the truth will do more harm than good—and how that will shape the man you’ll become.”

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is planned to launch this year on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PC (Steam), Epic Games Store, GOG), PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Hopefully, with better facial animations – the basics are already seem to be set in stone.

Source: Gematsu