Today during the big PS5 game showcase, many sequels, remakes, and spiritual successors were shown off for the up-and-coming system.
However, there were a few completely stand-alone titles revealed during the stream, one of which is Stray, a game developed by BLUETWELVE and published by Annapurna Interactive, the studio who has published other independent games such as Outer Wilds and Donut County. Stray immediately stood out to viewers because of the unique premise—you play as a cat exploring a post-apocalyptic world.
The trailer shows Blade Runner-esque neon lights and alleyway-filled abandoned city where humans have presumably died out, and humanoid robots have taken over the society. In fact, the cat is the only ‘living’ thing seen throughout the entire preview. The robots seem to have their own language and alphabet, as all the signs and speech in the trailer are unintelligible (well, that could partly be because you’re a cat). The robots seem to treat the cat how humans treat a pet or a stray animal—you see one let the cat inside a building after it meows at the door. Society seems to still have issues even after the apocalypse, as we see robots living on the streets and rummaging through the trash.
The player controls the cat, who is orange and wearing some sort of backpack or device, the purpose of which was not revealed. The game’s Steam page gives the following blurb about the game: “Lost, alone, and separated from family, a stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten cybercity and find the way home.” The Steam description implies there will be some sort of mystery to solve, as well as a journey through other yet-unseen areas.
The game is slated to release for the PS5 and PC in 2021.
