Into the Fireplace is a brand new upcoming sport by Starward Industries (the studio behind The Invincible) that places gamers within the sneakers of an individual tasked preventing off the consequences of a volcanic eruption whereas additionally having to cope with demons. The title includes a distinctive tackle the extraction shooter style, full with participant development that relies on determining the correct instruments for the job. Chief advertising officer for the studio, Maciej Dobrowolski was form sufficient to reply a few of our questions on Into the Fireplace.
To start with, Into The Fireplace Seems to be spectacular not solely from a tech perspective but additionally its artwork model is nice. Are you able to please speak a bit about that?
Thanks a lot! The visible model 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 know-how, and delusion—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 similar to distinctive retro automobiles, fireproof shields, and acid-resistant boats to endure the hearth. The fascinating retro aesthetics carefully resemble the real-life initiatives of volcanologists, explorers, and adventurers, as printed 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 factor, however a residing power—terrifying, stunning, and unknowable.
Into the Fireplace is a giant 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 partaking themes, however with a extra speedy, visceral depth. Whereas The Invincible centered 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 thought sparked once we have been watching Fireplace of Love, and the explosive, unpredictable nature of volcanoes impressed us to create a sport the place urgency, emotion, and decision-making below strain drive the gamers’ expertise. There’s a layer of mysticism and existential rigidity in how our characters relate to the world collapsing round them—however we additionally wished a gameplay construction thrilling sufficient to drag in a broader vary of gamers. This theme feels particularly well timed right now, as an increasing number of folks confront the uncooked energy of nature in their very own lives—whether or not by disasters, displacement, or the rising rigidity between human fragility and our planet in flux. Into the Fireplace is our approach of exploring that emotional terrain by intense experiences. It’s a special tempo, however born from the identical curiosity.
Extraction-styled video games are sometimes beloved for his or her brutal-but-rewarding development programs. Will we do one thing related in Into the Fireplace?
Undoubtedly. Our sport 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 below 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 value 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 regulate chaos. There are additionally sleds to cross harmful terrain, makeshift seismic detectors, and handcrafted innovations impressed by real-world volcanologist tools—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 in opposition to 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 programs. You’ll use it to trace lacking individuals, uncover the island’s secrets and techniques, and customise your rescue tools. 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, and so they 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 machine”
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 possibly can’t save everybody and that emotional weight is intentional. Lacking a rescue, operating out of time, or dropping somebody will echo within the narrative. Survivors could react to your selections, and the Hub could evolve otherwise primarily based 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 machine: it creates urgency, shapes character arcs, and makes each second significant.
Will there be disasters aside from volcanic eruptions and fireplace to cope with?
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, fuel 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 always adapt their survival methods. The escalating risks will push you to rethink easy methods to navigate this unstable world, the place even the land beneath your ft may be as harmful as the hearth above.
Are there any plans to launch the sport on Swap 2, PS5 and Xbox Sequence X | S?
Our precedence is to ship a easy and visually beautiful expertise throughout platforms, so we’re retaining our choices open and listening carefully to the neighborhood. We’re beginning with Early Entry on Steam, however our objective is to deliver the sport to all main platforms sooner or later. We’re aiming for a broad launch, with PS5 and Xbox Sequence X|S undoubtedly in our sights. As for Swap 2—let’s simply say we’re excited by its potential and are actively exploring it.
