October's game release schedule is facing an unprecedented surge of major titles, largely driven by the anticipated launch of GTA 6. This influx has created a "bloodbath" of new releases for the month, forcing publishers to carefully consider their launch windows. Among the contenders vying for attention is Valor Mortis, an AA first-person soulslike from Lyrical Games, the studio behind the Ghostrunner series.
Despite the crowded October calendar, which includes titles like Ace Combat 8, Gears of War: E-Day, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and Modern Warfare 4, Valor Mortis is set to launch on October 13. The game also faces competition from other anticipated releases such as a new Hellraiser game, Silver Pines, Jonathan Blow's next project, Planet Zoo 2, a remaster of Tales of Eternia, the 1.0 launch of Enshrouded, and a new Final Fantasy 2D-HD remake.
Valor Mortis aims to stand out by focusing on what the developers describe as a first-person soulslike experience. A recent demo reportedly received positive reception, particularly for its execution of first-person melee combat, a challenging genre to perfect. The game's publisher, Lyrical Games, acknowledges the competitive landscape.
"By virtue of the development schedule, the cards we’ve been dealt is that we are one of the only new IPs launching this fall," stated Lyrical Games CEO Blake Rochkind in a recent interview. "We are pretty confident in Valor Mortis. But ultimately, the worst thing we could do is not push our chips in and say, ‘We want this to be a game that you can pick up alongside these other great games.’"
To facilitate this strategy, Lyrical Games has priced Valor Mortis at $40. This approach is designed to position the game as an "and game," allowing players to purchase it in addition to more expensive blockbuster titles. Rochkind explained, "One thing they said that really stuck with me is: ‘We never regretted being an ‘and’ game. We never regretted pricing our game as something that you can pick up alongside other games.’ Going with this price point will help us be an ‘and’ game."
The publication notes that while this pricing strategy might be common sense, its blunt articulation is insightful. The article also draws a parallel to the developers of Peak, who previously explained their pricing philosophy by stating, "4 bucks is also kind of 5 bucks, 3 bucks is 2 bucks. And 2 bucks is basically free."
It is also interesting to note that a AA action game would opt to launch amidst several major competitors rather than risk facing the direct impact of GTA 6's November release. The strategy highlights a careful consideration of market positioning and player purchasing habits in a highly competitive environment.