- A Seoul-based action RPG featuring developers from Nexon, NC, Netmarble, and Notty Dog
- Demonstration including boss battles showcased at Tokyo Game Show… Aiming for global PC and console release in June 2027
- An anime-style action RPG that recreates real-life Seoul locations such as DDP, Gwanghwamun, and Namsan as dungeons
South Korean game development studio Rockinforged CO., will exhibit the action RPG ‘SoulForged: Ashborn’, currently under development, at Tokyo Game Show 2026.
Rockin’ Forged will showcase a playable demo at booth 09-C30 in the indie game corner of ‘Tokyo Game Show 2026,’ which will be held at Makuhari Messe in Japan from September 17 to 21. The demo build supports Korean, English, and Japanese UIs, and allows users to experience actual gameplay, including boss battles.
The game is currently in the alpha development phase, with a target official release date of June 2027. A simultaneous global launch is planned for PC (Steam) and console platforms.
A quarter-view hack-and-slash game to reclaim Seoul destroyed by an alien civilization
‘SoulForged: Ashborn’ is set in a near-future Seoul devastated by the invasion of the alien civilization ‘Archalis’. Players take on the role of ‘Ash’, a humanoid fighting on behalf of humanity to reclaim the ruined city.
The game adopts a quarter-view hack-and-slash action RPG. It is characterized by recreating real Seoul landmarks such as DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza), Sebitseom, Namsan, Gwanghwamun, and COEX as dungeons.
The combat combines the characteristic speed of hack-and-slash games, where you quickly wipe out hordes of enemies, with Soulslike-style boss battles centered around parrying.
Players can freely switch between five types of weapons: Longsword, Dagger, Katana, Greatsword, and Laserblade. Successfully parrying triggers a unique special move corresponding to each weapon.
The growth method is also a differentiating factor. Instead of typical level-ups, the structure involves acquiring new combos and evasion moves through research and crafting. It stands out that the design aims to change the gameplay style itself, rather than simply increasing stats.
Rescued survivor NPCs can be assigned as researchers at a base to prepare for the next sortie. The time limit for recapturing the city is 30 days, and the base will be raided if left unattended. Accordingly, it appears that a roguelite-style structure involving repeated choices and preparations within a limited time will also be implemented.
Ruined Seoul reinterpreted with anime-style Unreal 5 toon rendering
‘SoulForged: Ashborn’ implements Japanese anime-style cell shading visuals using toon rendering based on Unreal Engine 5.
Taiwanese gaming media outlet Bahamut introduced this title as a hack-and-slash action RPG in the style of Japanese anime. It describes how a taciturn professor, a girl-like robot learning the meaning of existence, and a resistance group composed of survivors unfold a story revolving around trauma, memory, and reconstruction.
In particular, the harmony between the setting, which recreates real-life Seoul landmarks as destroyed dungeons, and the subculture-style graphics is eye-catching. It is expected to deliver a unique mise-en-scène by transforming a familiar city into unfamiliar ruins. However, detailed information regarding the background music (BGM) and sound design, which will determine auditory immersion, remains shrouded in mystery.
A new ‘AI Native’ studio formed by former employees of Nexon, NC, and Netmarble
Rockin’ Forged is a new game development company established in Seoul in April 2026. It aims to develop PC package games targeting the premium global market and introduces itself as an ‘AI Native’ studio.
CEO Song Jin-soo, who leads the development team, is a 15-year veteran Balance and System Planning PD who previously worked at Nexon Games, NCSoft, and Netmarble. The team also includes veteran artists from Naughty Dog, who developed ‘The Last of Us Part II’, as well as 2K Games and Nexon.
The studio stated that it pursues a development approach that utilizes AI for repetitive tasks and invests the saved time into testing, polishing, and balancing.
‘SoulForged: Ashborn’ is scheduled to be sold as a complete package without gacha or auto-battles, with a base price of $29.99 and a plan to provide large DLC later. The playtime was introduced as approximately 50 to 150 hours.
Asian game media pays attention to news of TGS exhibition
Although ‘SoulForged: Ashborn’ has not yet been officially released, Asian gaming media outlets such as Bahamut quickly reported on the news following the announcement of its entry at the Tokyo Game Show.
Initial reports highlighted the backgrounds, which recreate actual Seoul landmarks as dungeons, and the growth system, which allows players to change their combat style through research and crafting rather than leveling up, as key features. Another point of interest is that, despite being a fledgling studio established less than half a year ago, it includes personnel from major domestic game companies and famous overseas developers.
‘SoulForged: Ashborn’ is a title that aims to combine the speed of hack-and-slash with the tension of Soulslike combat, set in real-world locations in Seoul. Attention is focused on how the on-site demo at Tokyo Game Show will be received by visitors, and whether that reaction will serve as the first evaluation for the global release scheduled for June 2027.
‘SoulForged: Ashborn’ is a game that intricately weaves together the driving speed characteristic of hack-and-slash games with the heavy tension of the soul-like genre, set in the familiar heart of Seoul.
With attention focused on whether the demo version to be unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) can satisfy the discerning standards of global gamers, this first declaration of intent on the world stage is expected to serve as a critical compass to gauge the success or failure of the official global launch scheduled for June 2027.
Information regarding ‘SoulForged: Ashborn’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Rockinforged (Rockinforged CO., LTD., Seoul, South Korea) |
| Publisher | Rockin’ Forged (Self-Publishing) |
| Genre | Quarter-view hack-and-slash action RPG, Soulslike boss battles |
| platform | Scheduled for PC (Steam) and console releases |
| Release date | June 2027 (Targeting simultaneous global release, currently in alpha development) |
| engine | Unreal Engine 5 (Toon Rendering) |
| price | $29.99 (Sell-only, major DLC sold separately, no gacha or auto-battle) |
| language | Simultaneous support for 9 languages at launch (Japanese, English, Korean, etc.) |
| Volume | 50~150 hours |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
