Orcs Must Die launching on Steam, XBLA

Robot Entertainment has officially confirmed the Xbox Live Arcade and PC via Steam as the platforms for its upcoming (and first) title, Orcs Must Die. The game is set to launch this summer.

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Robot Entertainment, the independent developer comprised of former Ensemble Studios team members, has finally revealed the specific platforms for its upcoming (and first) title.

Orcs Must Die, which blends tower defense with a third-person shooter, will be published on the Xbox Live Arcade and on PC by Microsoft Studios. A sell-sheet for the game given to Shacknews during a demo earlier today revealed the game will be released on PC via Steam.

During a demo today, a Robot Entertainment representative said revealed that the game is "essentially done." Now, the studio awaits certification for Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade release. It's unclear if the game will be made available on any other PC digital distribution platforms.

Orcs Must Die is the first game from Robot Entertainment since it was established following the closure of Ensemble Studios. The studio had previously been working with Microsoft on Age of Empires Online, before handing development duties off to Gas Powered Games.

Orcs Must Die is a single-player title, featuring over 20 maps where players must use weapons, traps, and the environment to stop a horde of creatures from reaching (and thus destroying) an open rift in the world.

No specific release was revealed; however, it sounds like the game will arrive on the tail end of the summer season (between August and September). The PC and XBLA release will be simultaneous, Robot confirmed to Shacknews.

Those adventuring to Comic-Con will have a chance to play the game (at the Xbox Lounge in the Hard Rock Hotel on July 23-24) as well as get their hands on a prequel comic that outlines the game's story. Those lucky enough to play the game during the event will receive a "Limited print edition" of the comic for free, while a free, digital version will be released later this summer.

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 18, 2011 5:00 PM

    Xav de Matos posted a new article, Orcs Must Die launching on Steam, XBLA.

    Robot Entertainment has officially confirmed the Xbox Live Arcade and PC via Steam as the platforms for its upcoming (and first) title, Orcs Must Die. The game is set to launch this summer.

    • reply
      July 18, 2011 7:22 PM

      hasn't this game been listed on Steam for a fair while?

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        July 18, 2011 7:58 PM

        Wasn't listed when I looked it up before running this story. Not there now.

        Prior to this, Robot only ever said the game was coming to PC and to consoles via digital download. Today, they revealed the console is Xbox 360.

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          July 18, 2011 9:54 PM

          I guess I imagined it. Nevermind!

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            July 19, 2011 6:38 PM

            I'm in Shacknews Battlegroup on Steam - you might have seen my (or other Robot's) presence text for playing the game pop up as we work on it.

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      July 18, 2011 7:22 PM

      \o/

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      July 18, 2011 10:21 PM

      im interested

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