Neowiz announced on the 23rd that it has signed a publishing contract for the new game ‘Wind Up Deadman’ currently under development by domestic indie developer Saints Studio.
‘Wind Up Deadman’ is a narrative-driven CRPG set in a ‘Cassette Futurism’ worldview that combines 1980s analog devices, such as cassette tapes, with futuristic imagination.
The game tells the story of survivors who lost their memories after a bio-disaster and are living in a container tower left in the middle of a desert, relying on a single cassette tape for their recollections.
The protagonist, Zephyr, entrusts his soul to a robot and tracks down traces of the past. Just as the title ‘Wind Up’ refers to the act of rewinding a cassette tape, the player retraces lost memories to approach the truth of the world. The game completes a unique retro atmosphere enhanced by sentimental pixel art visuals.
Developer Sainnuts Studio is a South Korean indie studio known for its unique worldview and in-depth storytelling. Its flagship mobile RPG, ‘Metro Blossom,’ was recognized for its artistic merit after being selected for the Top 10 at the 2021 Google Play Indie Game Festival.
In addition, it has demonstrated the potential for IP expansion beyond the game by publishing a spin-off novel titled ‘Coffee of the End of the World,’ which tells the story 13 years after the game.
Through this contract, Neowiz plans to secure a global IP capable of long-term growth, moving beyond short-term launch performance. The company evaluated ‘Wind Up Deadman’ as a title with the potential to build a global fandom based on its unique worldview and in-depth narrative.
It is expected to create synergy by adding Neowiz’s global business capabilities, which include experience in publishing indie games such as ‘Skull’ and ‘Shape of Dreams’.
“We expect that through this collaboration, we will be able to showcase the deep narrative and RPG fun of ‘Wind Up Deadman’ to gamers around the world,” said a Neowiz official. “We will continue to strive to discover and nurture unique IPs that increase in value over time.”
