Annapurna Interactive has revealed the talented cast of the upcoming Maquette, a first-person puzzle game set in a recursive world where players simultaneously experience the life cycle of a loving relationship. The cast features Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards nominee Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World,” “The Help,” “As You Like It,” “The Village”) and Saturn Awards nominee Seth Gabel (“Fringe,” “Salem,” “Genius”, “Nip/Tuck”) as Kenzie and Michael, a fictional couple looking back on their relationship. The game will launch on March 2, 2021 for PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 for $19.99. Watch Maquette’s new trailer below.
Developed by Graceful Decay and published by Annapurna Interactive, Maquette invites players to navigate memories by exploring worlds-within-worlds filled with awe-inspiring architecture. Each chapter in this modern-day love story features unique interactive puzzles as the player journeys through a game filled with stunning environments, eye-opening moments and an adventure of love, loss, and acceptance.
“While the fantastical puzzles and recursive reality of Maquette deliver the ‘a-ha’ moments, Bryce and Seth convey the emotional heartbeat of the story,” said creative director and Graceful Decay founder Hanford Lemoore. “The message behind Maquette is truly one of understanding – understanding in the physical world, in the mind, and in the heart. Bryce and Seth’s incredible performances will bring that message to life.”
“I’ve been wanting to get more involved in video games for years because games do something in storytelling that movies and literature don’t: they encourage people to play an active role in the story,” said Bryce Dallas Howard. “So when I was offered the chance to work with Annapurna on Maquette, I was very excited to dive into this immersive emotional experience. What I love about this game is that, even though our voices are guiding you through the narrative, you’re still the one that needs to figure out how to solve the puzzles in order to finish the story. And because the game is recursive, there are infinite possibilities as to how the pieces come together.”
“Maquette is interactive storytelling at its finest. The characters and situations are simple at the start, but the game evolves as the romantic relationship between its two main characters becomes more complex. The world of Maquette is a playable, interactive metaphor; a physical manifestation of the emotional underpinnings between two lovers, played out through a series of puzzles, representing the many challenges and triumphs a relationship can go through. It’s a cathartic experience!”
Maquette was inspired by Hanford Lemoore’s surroundings, as much of the game’s inspiration was taken from San Francisco. From the architecture and environmental details, to the songs inspired by the Bay Area, to the specific city-sounds captured to create the game’s dream-like metropolitan atmosphere, the vibrant city of San Francisco has always been a key physical and visual aspect of Maquette. After only a few weeks of development, Lemoore showed Maquette’s original prototype at the 2011 Game Developers Conference, where it gained instant praise and intrigue from developers and media.
To stay up to date on Maquette news, please visit maquettegame.com.
