Valor Mortis, the upcoming Soulslike from the developers behind the cyberpunk FPS platformer Ghostrunner, will launch on October 13 for $40. This price point is a strategic decision by developer Lyrical Games to stand out in a crowded fall release window, aiming to capture player time and money against a tide of major titles. The game places players in the role of a former Napoleonic soldier wielding supernatural powers against battlefield terrors.
Developers acknowledged the pricing discussion, stating their confidence in Valor Mortis's quality, fidelity, and playtime, which they estimate at around 20 hours for the story. However, they recognized the significant competition. "This fall is stacked and there’s high demand for your time and money," the developers said in an announcement. This move reflects a growing trend of pricing variability in the gaming market, with recent titles like Mafia: The Old Country and Star Wars Zero Company also launching at lower-than-usual price points.
Blake Rochkind, head of Lyrical Games, elaborated on the decision, emphasizing that the lower price is made out of confidence rather than a lack of it. He referenced a developer who found success with a game priced at $30 (equivalent to about $40 today), highlighting the benefit of being an "and" game – one that players can pick up alongside other releases. This approach, Rochkind believes, will help Valor Mortis gain traction even with major titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 and a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake also vying for player attention during the busy release season.