Announced at Summer Games Fest, Chronicles: Medieval is an exciting new student effort from brand new developer Raw Power Games. Although this is the first title as a studio, the team consists of legacy talents from games such as Hogwarts Legacy, Hitman and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The trailer, debuting today, gives a little flavour of the Chronicle: it demonstrates the purpose of Medieval, but was able to take part in a special presentation to dive further into the title that carves the ambitious history of Raw Power Games.
Set in 1313 in Europe, players assume the role of a created character with little or no social influence on the world around them. Acquiring this character is a player’s goal from the start. Perhaps he is a deliberate artisan from a village named, from rags to wealth, to ultimately become the most influential and powerful person. The artisan may start with a small beginning, but one day he will not stop him from picking up a sword and becoming a mercantilator, look to the lives of bandits for the economic redistribution of five-finger diversity, or join the king’s army in search of glory on the battlefield.
As players rise in social ranks, earn honors and tournament victory, and ultimately gain leadership positions, the game imposes them by expanding the scope of influence on as many lands as possible. An empire may be created at the end of the sword, but that is not the only way to control much of Europe. By engaged in diplomacy, building trade routes and developing partnerships, it will help to create bloodless bridges in other countries. For players who feel a bit malicious but don’t distract their appetites from the war, diving and spying are also on the table. Chronicle: Medieval is about having players decide how to construct legends and see the world react to their actions.
Over the course of the campaign, unique simulation technology occasionally throws the wrench into the player’s best plan, citing unexpected things. Famine, plague and other types of natural disasters could be an opportunity to burn their paths across Europe, becoming mutual enemies of players and allies or seizing more lands. What is a better way to win a war than to hit when your opponent is at their weakest?
Of course, this does not mean that war is always a bad option. Raw Power Games wants to simulate massive battles of the past by allowing players to prepare, command and fight alongside the army in huge conflicts. The developers describe these conflicts as medieval pillars, equivalent to sandbox storytelling, and aim to make them a historical and persuasive part. The campaign is single player, but players who want to join their friends can take part in the melee struggle of Brutal Night on Night in Co-op mode, which consists of custom battles.
The main focus of the Chronicle: Medieval periods are easy for players to modify the game. Community Manager Clemenskoch claims that the modifications are not just supported, but are part of Raw Power Games’ DNA. “Tank’s 100 Thomas vs 1 Master Chief?” Koch Pontificates. “This can only be done through modifications.”
Raw Power Games is looking to launch the 2026 Medieval early access release on PC in 2026 and wants to build the game together with the community. There’s a lot of things going to happen in the meantime, but the current plan is to maintain early access for around 12 months before officially release, and think about something like a console release. However, Raw Power Games doesn’t take that into consideration at all as a service, as it is a premium title that plans to make the most of its time with early access.
Incidentally, for those interested in how The Dark Knight rose and what actor Tom Hardy ended up talking about the trailer, the answer is much easier than expected: they emailed him and asked him. After Raw Power Games showed The Hardy a trailer and identified him as the ideal voice to showcase the game, Hardy loved it and agreed to lend him his dulcet tone for narration.
If the Chronicle: Medieval Period works with all its promises, players should have a great time exploring Kranny in every narrative corner as they rise to the top of the socioeconomic landscape of 14th century Europe. Whether it’s through attack, defense, or diplomacy, the Emperor’s Crown awaits players ready to challenge the world with this ambitious title.
