Hello there. My identify is Julián, and I’m the lead developer of Despelote – a slice-of-life journey about childhood and soccer in Quito, Ecuador within the yr 2001. Myself and the staff are joyful to cease by the Xbox Wire in the present day to announce that our recreation is coming to Xbox Collection X|S in 2024. We’re additionally capable of announce in the present day that Despelote can be a part of Tribeca’s 2023 Pageant Choice and that the sport can be revealed by Panic, who helped deliver Untitled Goose Recreation and Firewatch to the world.
Whereas Despelote could be very a lot a recreation about soccer, you gained’t actually end up enjoying a full soccer match and even needing to know the principles. As an alternative,our recreation focuses on the inherent enjoyable of being a child, simply kicking round a soccer ball with your mates whilst you’re out and about, speaking about your day in school… and perhaps annoying your neighbors within the course of.
It’s the yr 2001, and Ecuador is on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup. Ecuador had by no means certified for the World Cup earlier than, and as a rustic simply recovering from a large monetary disaster, the thought of qualifying has stuffed the group with hope and optimism. Studying concerning the folks of Quito as you play soccer with your mates, and feeling that power out of your group as you discover is what Despelote is all about.
Along with my good friend and artist Sebastián Valbuena we got down to make a recreation that isn’t solely visually distinctive, but in addition one which communicates a powerful and particular sense of place. That is partly as a result of Despelote is a semi-autobiographical recreation, as I grew up in Quito, Ecuador round this time, so it was necessary to me that we get it proper. You additionally play as a younger boy named Julian, however he’s indirectly a one-for-one mirror of me!
To offer gamers a real image of Ecuador, we took photographs and recorded audio throughout journeys to Quito that are actually used within the recreation for objects akin to constructing textures and conversations you’ll hear as you discover the streets. Sebastián can also be doing an unbelievable job of hand drawing our characters, in addition to the animals you’ll run into throughout your time in Quito. The sport can also be totally voice acted in Spanish, with localized subtitles relying in your desire.
In order that’s Despelote: a bittersweet and typically dreamy semi-autobiographical story about how soccer can affect a spot and its tradition. We hope you cease by and go to Quito when it’s launched on Xbox in 2024. ¡Garcias, y cuidense!
