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Press release:
St. Paul, Minnesota, June 30, 2026 – Temerity Games today unveiled SEAR, a high-speed anti-gravity racing game where every level is built around the structure of a song. As the music evolves, the course transforms with it, turning each level into a music video players can race through.

Drawing inspiration from F‑Zero GX, Mario Kart 8, Thumper, Rez and WarioWare, SEAR introduces Phased Gaming, a patent‑pending system that ties gameplay to the structure and momentum of a song. Rather than serving as a soundtrack or a series of timing prompts, the music drives the race itself, with shifts in mood, energy, and intensity reshaping the course as players race.

Every level in SEAR is handcrafted by designers interpreting the music rather than relying on procedural generation. One song might inspire a race through a civilization’s final days. Another could send players speeding along the firing synapses of the human brain.

As the music progresses through distinct phases, the course transforms, introducing new gameplay twists and environmental changes inspired by its shifting energy and emotion. Player positions are recorded at each phase shift, with final standings determined at the end of the race, compressing the structure of a full Grand Prix into a single song.

Unlike traditional rhythm games, SEAR emphasizes flow and momentum over strict timing. It features no game‑over screens or mid‑song fail states, allowing players to experience each track from beginning to end without interruption. Players drift, strafe, and surf the beat while catching energy pulses from the song through accessible timing windows that encourage rhythm without demanding precision. These pulses grant speed boosts, weapons, and unique abilities that vary from song to song. The music does not just shape the course. It powers it.

“SEAR started with me playing a racing game while listening to my own music, and the thrill I got when music and gameplay lined up”, said Adam Nicolai, Founder and President of Temerity Games.

“I wanted a game where those awesome moments were intentional, instead of happening by accident. A true racing game where the music tied its intensity to that racing game excitement, and left strict rhythm mechanics out of it.”

SEAR is designed to be approachable without sacrificing depth, with extensive accessibility and customization options supporting a wide range of skill levels, play styles, and needs.

Vibe Mode offers a relaxed experience with simplified mechanics, while Strive Mode focuses on precision, mastery, and competitive play. Asynchronous multiplayer via global leaderboards and player ghosts encourage players to refine their routes and continually challenge their best runs across every song, with true online multiplayer planned for the 1.0 release.

SEAR will launch on PC via Steam Early Access in 2027. Players can wishlist SEAR on Steam and join the official Discord server to stay up to date.

About Temerity Games

Temerity Games is a remote indie studio headquartered in Minnesota, United States, bringing together developers from around the world who are committed to exploring new ideas in game design. The studio prioritizes inventive mechanics, strong creative identity, and development practices that support both the people making the games and the long‑term quality of the work. Temerity values experimentation across every layer of design, from core gameplay loops to interface and presentation, and aims to create experiences that resonate with players long after they finish.

The studio’s first project, SEAR, introduces Phased Gaming, a patent‑pending system that ties gameplay to the emotional arc of a song. Instead of relying on rhythm inputs, SEAR builds each race around a single track, with shifts in mood and intensity driving changes in the course and environment. The result is a new kind of music‑driven racing experience.