Fool’s Theory and 11 Bit Studios may not be joining the ranks of developers and publishers counting on 2024 instead of 2023.

This team is led by Jakub Rokosz, senior quest designer on The Witcher 2 and 3, and perhaps it’s no coincidence that they have a good relationship, as the studio is also working on a remake of the first The Witcher, with complete creative supervision from CD Projekt RED. Everyone has their demons. The Thaumaturge is an isometric, story-rich RPG with a unique take on turn-based combat, character development features, and investigation mechanics, facing you with morally ambiguous choices—set in a world teeming with mysterious powers and strange ethereal beings called Salutors.

The year is 1905. Warsaw lives under the yoke of imperial Russian tsardom. Its inhabitants constitute a diverse group of different ancestries, views, and beliefs with often conflicting interests: Russian soldiers, Jewish merchants, Polish townspeople, and more. Despite the circumstances, the city is a buzzing metropolis where one can attend a breathtaking party with the high society and later get robbed in one of the dark alleys of the Praga district. A city of great hopes and dreams on the one hand and dark desires on the other. In this world, a force that cannot be ignored are Thaumaturges—individuals versed in taming spirit-like beings called Salutors, used for manipulation of the temperaments and affinities of other people and even ultimately in combat. The devil is in the detail—only Thaumaturges are fully aware of the Salutors’ nature, and only they can perceive them in their true essence. Their capability to influence others significantly and demonstrably increases their ability to change the surrounding world—however, Thaumaturgy is a power that should be used with caution.

As a full-fledged RPG, it allows you to alternate your choices and make you deal with the aftermath. Creating your version of the Thaumaturge will allow you to approach situations differently. Defeat your foes in turn-based combat using human attacks, skills, and psychic strikes delivered by Salutors. Influence and manipulate the temperaments of other characters to bend their will to your liking. Use the unique set of their skills to gain an advantage while exploring the world and bringing your adversaries to their knees. Explore the uncommon, heavily researched historical period of the early XX century Warsaw, where crime and luxury are often two sides of the same coin. Meet historical figures and learn about their involvement in the story, created in Unreal Engine 5, delivering a detailed and beautifully crafted world.

The video below is named after the main character, Wiktor Szulski, who returned to Warsaw for family reasons. We are planning to play The Thaumaturge on PC later this year (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store).

Source: Gematsu