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Press release:
SEATTLE – May 10, 2022.
The Seattle-based (the US) indie games developer/publisher Devoured Studios and indie games developer Ska Studios (James Silva), today announced with great thrill and joy that their hardcore 2D ARPG/platformer “Salt and Sacrifice” (the next installment in the million-plus selling soulslike platformer “Salt and Sanctuary” series) is now available for PC (via the Epic Games Store), PS5 and the PS4 (via PSN).

Become a Marked Inquisitor, a condemned soul tasked with hunting fearsome corrupted Mages as the ultimate act of penance for past crimes. Enter Altarstone Kingdom and see firsthand how Mage-controlled displays of elemental magic have choked the life out of a once-mighty land. Shape the fate of the forsaken Kingdom as one of eight character classes, and take up arms to hunt Mages, purify the land, and earn a chance at redemption once and for all.

Set out from Pardoner’s Vale, a hub of hunters and the last bastion of the western frontier, by using the Mirrorgate to travel across the Kingdom. Master the tools of different classes, like the spell-casting Sage and Ranger, a deft archer and capable spear-wielder, to fight through challenging environments rife with dangerous foes, rare materials, and new armaments that reward intrepid Inquisitors. Earn Salt from defeated enemies to upgrade stats and spend Black Starstones to unlock skill tree upgrades to build a customized and capable Mage hunter.

Progress through zones inhabited by terrifying creatures, wicked traps, and platforming hurdles while pursuing Mages. Track the Inquisitor’s magic targets and face off against scorching Pyromancers, virulent Venomancers, and repulsive Corpumancers that bend the very elements to their devious wills. Overcome Mages in combat and destroy their hearts to grow more powerful by turning their bones into new weapons and armor sets before advancing onward.

Embrace fate as a Marked Inquitor and engage in online multiplayer for cooperative Mage hunts or devious PvP invasions. Invite friendly faces to the Pardoner’s Vale Cooperation Board using a password system or summon random partners to the hunt using a Golden Candle. Join factions for expanded multiplayer options, like the Shroud Alliance, whose agents use the mysterious Page of Curses to invade the world of other Inquisitors for PvP fights, and the Oathbound Watchers, an outfit dedicated to aiding those invaded by other players.

Master challenging and rewarding combat and RPG systems similar to soulslike titles in an expansive dark fantasy world scored by composer Maclaine Diemer (Guild Wars 2). Embrace deep storytelling and rich lore while platforming with the aid of a grappling hook to reach new heights. Fight alone or with other players across a main campaign punctuated by deadly boss fights and earn enough Salt to turn even the lowliest Marked Inquisitor into a champion.

“Salt and Sacrifice builds upon the foundation that made Salt and Sanctuary a fan-favorite soulslike,” said James Silva, founder, Ska Studios.

“As a game largely developed by two people, we’ve worked tirelessly to build an experience that offers meaningful combat, exciting multiplayer options, and more. We can’t wait to see you all in Altarstone Kingdom!”

Salt and Sacrifice is now available for PlayStation 5|4 and PC exclusively via Epic Games Store for USD $19.99. It supports English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) and Japanese languages.

To learn more, please follow @DevouredStudios and @SkaStudios on Twitter, like Ska Studios’ official Facebook page, and check out Ska’s Twitch stream.

About Ska Studios
Largely a one-person show, award-winning game developer James Silva has a talent for art, animation, music, coding, and level design. James always focuses on making games he would want to play first. His other games include Salt and Sanctuary, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, Charlie Murder, and I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!.

To learn more about Ska Studios, please visit the studio’s official website.

About Devoured Studios
Devoured Studios is a new collaboration between James Silva and his longtime friend Shane Lynch. As a former senior platform developer who worked on Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, Shane’s netcode skills form the backbone of Salt and Sacrifice’s online play.