Sifu Developer Working On Unannounced 3D Martial Arts Action IP

"Is one life enough to have kung-fu?"

By Shahmeer Sarfaraz April 6, 2022

Kung-fu is an art that is seldom encountered in video games. Only a couple of titles have been able to etch the martial arts experience into their games completely. Realizing the fluid execution of moves and creating vicious combos that feel different every time is no easy feat. The martial arts genre of video games remains an unexplored mine for the most part. However, Sloclap is already ahead of the curve. The French studio has recently flourished with its latest title that shook the gaming community.

Its latest action beat ’em up video game, Sifu, is a successful title that merges martial arts with unique rogue-like elements. This controller-smashing game causes the players to age upon death, for instance. The combat is fluid, and the whole environment is available to split open your foes’ skulls. However, Soclap now seems to be working on another unannounced similar title that incorporates martial arts into a video game.

Multiple job listings on the studio’s official website mention that it is working on an unannounced 3D martial arts action IP. The game supposedly has a stylized art direction and utilizes Unreal Engine 4, as suggested by the job listings. Sloclap nails down the martial art aspect of its games, so the title is likely to incorporate fluid attacks. The listing for the role of Senior 3D Animator suggests that the game will integrate a fluid cycle of movements, attacks, and dodge systems. The job listing mentions, “Understanding of gameplay constraints, animations directly impacting the game system (readability, challenge, balancing, etc.).” Perhaps the animation style is inspired by Sifu? Furthermore, the game is likely to have a character creator and camera animation as part of its cutscenes.

This unannounced game will have a level system, perhaps like Sifu again. The job listing for the Level Designer position emphasizes the elements of storytelling and martial arts. The job listing states that the candidate will “work closely with different teams to design, implement and maintain game levels and the ingredients that compose them.”

Considering the excellent level designs of Sifu, it’s no surprise that the developers are going to craft the levels of this mysterious title with love. Moreover, the environment may be a weapon for the player as well, meaning that every part of the level is available to be utilized against the enemies.

Sloclap is proficient in utilizing lighting in its games. The lighting in the levels of Sifu is praiseworthy and sets the mood as the player deals with the onslaught of enemies. The unannounced title will likely also emphasize describing art through lighting. The job listing for the Lighting Artist—page now deleted—position suggests that the candidate will be responsible for producing enchanting illumination to “light environments under the Unreal Engine.”

This alluring title appears to be in a skeletal state, and we will likely not hear anything officially for years. Soclap’s latest work is relatively youthful despite how many controllers it has led to being broken already. Sifu is still receiving updates, and the community is very much thriving.