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Press release:
ANN ARBOR, MI — June 11, 2020 — “We Are The Caretakers“, the sci-fi turn-based tactical RPG set in an afrofuturist world, will defend the planet’s most vulnerable creatures on Steam Early Access in Q3 2020, with a release for consoles planned to concurrently launch alongside PC’s version 1.0.

Heart Shaped Games invites everyone to download a free demo available on Steam this June 16 as part of the Steam Game Festival.

Turmoil has overtaken humanity after first contact with an alien civilization. Take command as the Conductor, one who’s sworn to protect the Shadran society and their endangered rhino-like species of Raun. Under threat from poachers, Caretakers must take up arms against those who would destroy what remains of the Raun and their home, saving the animals from extinction and continuing their tradition as wardens of Shadra’s most susceptible.

We Are The Caretakers combines real-time strategy with turn-based combat. Deploy squads of high-tech conservationist protectors led by the Conductor. Inspect the map and secure towns, while protecting Shadra’s beloved Raun that roam the fields. Nurture a special baby Raun who takes a liking to the Conductor and watch as they grow into a force to save their kind.

Recruit detained poachers, but keep an eye on the reputation of the Caretakers: the right decision is not always the popular one, and might make future missions more difficult. With more than 20 job classes, procedurally generated levels that feel hand-crafted, and a morally-complex world, We Are The Caretakers places Conductors into a complicated, exciting world full of strategic decisions and challenges.

We Are The Caretakers plays host to an original sci-fi world with an afrofuturist vision. Characters, environments, and the story blends elements of man-made and organic science fiction sporting a distinct African influence. The soundtrack combines epic orchestral sounds, African instrument samples, and modern hip-hop beats.

Heart Shaped Games is a diverse, talented team featuring art director Anthony Jones (former cinematics artist at Activision Blizzard) and narrative designer Xalavier Nelson Jr. (IGF nominee, narrative director for Hyperspace Outlaw). The studio is headed by Scott Brodie, a games industry veteran with almost two decades of experience under his belt, including time at Microsoft Game Studios as a producer on Xbox Live Arcade.

“The vision that the team is bringing to We Are The Caretakers is a rich sci-fi world with a focus on conservation that’s like no other, and this demo will give everyone a glimpse into an unparalleled experience,” said Scott Brodie, founder, Heart Shaped Games.

“We look forward to working with our audience to help craft the game based on feedback from the demo and the upcoming Early Access launch.”

The We Are The Caretakers demo will be available on Steam for a limited time, June 16-22 ahead of Early Access in Q3 2020, and consoles with version 1.0 in 2021. For more information, visit the official website, join the We Are The Caretakers Discord and follow Heart Shaped Games on Twitter, Facebook, and Twitch.

About Heart Shaped Games
Heart Shaped Games is a design-centric indie game studio founded in 2010 by 18-year game industry veteran Scott Brodie. As a diverse, remote team of veteran developers, Heart Shaped Games’ mission is to have an impact and create meaningful and memorable hits that fans will love. Their line-up of award-winning titles continues to expand, and so far includes We Are The Caretakers, Hero Generations, Brave Hand, and Highgrounds.