Into the Fireplace is a brand new upcoming recreation by Starward Industries (the studio behind The Invincible) that places gamers within the sneakers of an individual tasked combating off the results of a volcanic eruption whereas additionally having to take care of demons. The title incorporates a distinctive tackle the extraction shooter style, full with participant development that depends upon determining the proper instruments for the job. Chief advertising officer for the studio, Maciej Dobrowolski was type sufficient to reply a few of our questions on Into the Fireplace.
To start with, Into The Fireplace Seems spectacular not solely from a tech perspective but additionally its artwork fashion is nice. Are you able to please discuss a bit about that?
Thanks a lot! The visible fashion of Into the Fireplace was born from our fascination with the surreal energy of volcanic landscapes. We wished each body to really feel hypnotic, harmful, and awe-inspiring. Our artwork group took inspiration from actual volcanic footage, retrofuturistic gear, and non secular, ritualistic aesthetics rooted within the cultures of volcanic areas. That mixture—uncooked nature, analogue expertise, and fantasy—creates a world that’s each acquainted and dreamlike. Visually, it’s a spot the place science meets mysticism.
Drawing inspiration from the innovations of pioneering volcanologists, gamers depend on experimental gear corresponding to distinctive retro autos, fireproof shields, and acid-resistant boats to endure the fireplace. The charming retro aesthetics carefully resemble the real-life initiatives of volcanologists, explorers, and adventurers, as revealed in scientific journals of the twentieth century, in addition to the sci-fi aesthetics impressed by these discovered within the novels of Jules Verne and classic journey magazines.
“We wished each body to really feel hypnotic, harmful, and awe-inspiring.”
The visuals have been additionally deeply impressed by the hypnotic, alluring, but lethal energy of a volcano throughout an eruption. We wished the volcano not simply to be a background aspect, however a dwelling power—terrifying, lovely, and unknowable.
Into the Fireplace is an enormous bounce from the extra contemplative nature of The Invincible. What prompted this radical shift in design philosophy?
We see Into the Fireplace because the pure evolution of our storytelling—nonetheless pushed by depth and emotionally participating themes, however with a extra speedy, visceral depth. Whereas The Invincible targeted on cosmic thriller and inside battle, Into the Fireplace dives into human resilience within the face of overwhelming pure forces. We’re fascinated by how folks react when pushed to the sting—by nature, by time, by duty. The concept sparked after we have been watching Fireplace of Love, and the explosive, unpredictable nature of volcanoes impressed us to create a recreation the place urgency, emotion, and decision-making beneath strain drive the gamers’ expertise. There’s a layer of mysticism and existential stress in how our characters relate to the world collapsing round them—however we additionally wished a gameplay construction thrilling sufficient to tug in a broader vary of gamers. This theme feels particularly well timed as we speak, as increasingly folks confront the uncooked energy of nature in their very own lives—whether or not by disasters, displacement, or the rising stress between human fragility and our planet in flux. Into the Fireplace is our means of exploring that emotional terrain by intense experiences. It’s a unique tempo, however born from the identical curiosity.
Extraction-styled video games are sometimes beloved for his or her brutal-but-rewarding development methods. Will we do one thing related in Into the Fireplace?
Undoubtedly. Our recreation options mission-based development carefully tied to the Hub, our central protected zone. Every mission into the catastrophe zone is a threat—you select your instruments, your goal, and handle time beneath strain. Success will not be solely about saving lives—whether or not it’s an individual, a canine, or a chook—but additionally discovering new clues and delving deeper into the world. Rescuing folks means that you can study extra and brings you nearer to unraveling the thriller of the island. Success means upgrades and new sources; failure can price lives. The strain of extraction-style gameplay is there, however as a substitute of loot, you’re extracting survivors, information, and hope. It’s brutal, however emotionally rewarding.
“Success will not be solely about saving lives—whether or not it’s an individual, a canine, or a chook—but additionally discovering new clues and delving deeper into the world.”
What are a number of the stranger instruments we’ll get to make use of in Into the Fireplace?
We leaned into the retrofuturistic and volcanological inspirations exhausting. Gamers can use gear like a fireplace suppression pistol, an extinguishing shotgun, or perhaps a fireplace bomb launcher—designed to not kill, however to manage chaos. There are additionally sleds to cross harmful terrain, makeshift seismic detectors, and handcrafted innovations impressed by real-world volcanologist gear—like shields for acid rain or devices for navigating lava flows. It’s bizarre science meets survival intuition.
Moreover, a number of the instruments are important for coping with legendary creatures which have solely ever existed in terrifying legends up till now. These creatures, born from the island’s mysterious and unstable nature, require a singular method. The weapons and gadgets are particularly designed not solely to handle the eruption’s chaos but additionally to defend towards these otherworldly adversaries.
How will development work with The Hub?
The Hub is the guts of the sport and in addition the central place the place the story develops. It’s the place you’ll regroup, improve gear, and plan your subsequent missions. However it’s greater than only a base—it expands with the variety of folks and animals you save, creating new relationships, tales, and emotional layers. Because the Hub grows, it turns into extra alive, and your personal survival story unfolds. It additionally opens up new gameplay methods. You’ll use it to trace lacking individuals, uncover the island’s secrets and techniques, and customise your rescue gear. Each return to the Hub is an opportunity to breathe, replicate, and put together for what’s subsequent.
How will myths and different fantasy components play into the story and setting of Into the Fireplace?
Volcanoes already really feel legendary—they reshape the land, create and destroy, they usually have impressed legends for hundreds of years. We wished to honor that. Because the story unfolds, you’ll begin to understand that the island holds secrets and techniques older than science—rituals, symbols, and forces that trace at one other dimension. Myths in Into the Fireplace aren’t simply taste—they slowly creep into the gameplay, the atmosphere, and the characters’ beliefs, blurring the strains between actuality and one thing far older and deeper.
“We would like gamers to really feel the strain of time not as a punishment, however as a storytelling system”
With time being an essential useful resource to handle, how will a participant’s failure at some duties play into the narrative?
Failure might be a part of the story. You’ll be able to’t save everybody and that emotional weight is intentional. Lacking a rescue, working out of time, or dropping somebody will echo within the narrative. Survivors could react to your decisions, and the Hub could evolve otherwise based mostly on who you save—or don’t. We would like gamers to really feel the strain of time not as a punishment, however as a storytelling system: it creates urgency, shapes character arcs, and makes each second significant.
Will there be disasters apart from volcanic eruptions and fireplace to take care of?
Sure, fireplace is only one of many risks. The island’s atmosphere is dynamic and hostile in stunning methods. You’ll face ash storms, collapsing terrain, gasoline leaks, and even environmental anomalies tied to the mysterious forces beneath the volcano. Because the story progresses, new threats—each pure and supernatural—will emerge, difficult gamers to continually adapt their survival methods. The escalating risks will push you to rethink how you can navigate this unstable world, the place even the land beneath your toes might be as harmful as the fireplace above.
Are there any plans to launch the sport on Change 2, PS5 and Xbox Collection X | S?
Our precedence is to ship a clean and visually beautiful expertise throughout platforms, so we’re holding our choices open and listening carefully to the neighborhood. We’re beginning with Early Entry on Steam, however our objective is to convey the sport to all main platforms sooner or later. We’re aiming for a broad launch, with PS5 and Xbox Collection X|S undoubtedly in our sights. As for Change 2—let’s simply say we’re excited by its potential and are actively exploring it.
