Immortals of Aveum

Immortals of Aveum is a 2023 single-player, first-person magic shooter developed by Ascendant Studios and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Originals label. Founded by Bret Robbins, the former creative director of the original Dead Space and several Call of Duty campaigns, Ascendant Studios designed the game to answer a specific question: “What if we made a Call of Duty game, but replaced all the helicopters and assault rifles with dragons and battle-mages?”

Set in the original high-fantasy universe of Aveum, the story follows Jak (played by Darren Barnet), an orphaned street thief who unexpectedly manifests powerful magical abilities during a catastrophic attack on his home. Jak is revealed to be an “Unforeseen”—someone who gains magic later in life—and an incredibly rare “Triarch,” a mage capable of wielding all three colors of magic. Drafted by General Kirkan (portrayed by Gina Torres) into the Immortals, an elite order of battle-mages, Jak is thrust onto the frontlines of the “Everwar.” He must help the kingdom of Lucium stop the tyrannical warlord Sandrakk from seizing control of the world’s magical leylines and plunging Aveum into the abyss.

Gameplay

Immortals of Aveum plays like a fast-paced, modern arena shooter (drawing heavy comparisons to Doom Eternal), but entirely replaces traditional firearms with high-octane spellcasting.

Key gameplay mechanics include:

• The Three Colors of Magic: Jak channels his magic through a gauntlet device called a Sigil. Each color functions as a different archetype of traditional FPS weaponry:
  • Blue (Force): Fires precise, long-range bolts. Functionally similar to sniper rifles or semi-automatic battle rifles.
  • Red (Chaos): Unleashes wide, devastating blasts of entropy. Functionally similar to close-range shotguns or grenade launchers.
  • Green (Life): Fires rapid, homing projectiles. Functionally similar to submachine guns or assault rifles.
• Furies and Controls: Alongside his primary “gunplay,” Jak can unleash “Furies” (mana-consuming heavy attacks like massive shockwaves or concentrated laser beams). He also utilizes “Control” spells to manipulate the battlefield, such as using a magic lash to pull enemies close or throwing green limpets to drastically slow down fast-moving targets.
• Mobility: Staying still is a death sentence. Jak is highly mobile, equipped with a forward-facing magical shield, a rapid “Blink” dodge, and a hover ability to rain down spells from above.
• RPG Progression: The game features light RPG mechanics. Players can find and craft upgraded Sigils, rings, and bracers to boost their stats, and invest experience points into a massive, three-pronged skill tree to augment their preferred colors of magic.
• Metroidvania Elements: Between the massive, cinematic firefights, players explore hub areas and complete environmental puzzles. As Jak learns new spells, he can backtrack to previous areas to unlock hidden chests and alternate pathways.

Development and Legacy

Immortals of Aveum holds a distinct place in gaming history as one of the very first AAA games to be released fully utilizing Unreal Engine 5.1. It heavily showcased the engine’s groundbreaking technologies, specifically Nanite (which allows for incredibly complex, film-quality geometric details) and Lumen (dynamic, real-time global illumination). Visually, the game was a spectacle of particle effects and sprawling fantasy architecture.

However, upon its release in August 2023, the game met a tragic fate. It launched into one of the most crowded, competitive release windows in gaming history, sandwiched directly between massive juggernauts like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Starfield.

Critically, the reception was mixed. Reviewers highly praised the fast-paced, satisfying combat loop and the stunning visuals. But the game was heavily criticized for its writing—which many felt relied too heavily on modern, quipy “Marvel-esque” dialogue that undercut the serious fantasy setting—and its brutal PC system requirements, which forced many players to use aggressive AI upscaling just to maintain a playable framerate.

Commercially, the game was a massive failure. Despite an estimated budget of over $120 million and aggressive marketing by EA, it completely failed to find an audience at launch. The devastating financial loss led to Ascendant Studios laying off roughly 45% of its workforce just weeks after the game’s release. Ultimately, Immortals of Aveum stands as a highly competent, incredibly fun action game that serves as a grim cautionary tale about the risks of launching a brand-new IP with an inflated AAA budget in a hyper-competitive market.

Key Features:

• First-Person Spellcasting — Trade assault rifles and grenades for a fast-paced, visually explosive magic combat system.
• The Triarch Magnus — Master the three distinct colors of magic (Red, Blue, and Green) to break enemy shields and exploit elemental weaknesses.
• Unreal Engine 5 Showcase — Experience a gorgeous, next-generation fantasy world built on the cutting edge of UE5’s Lumen and Nanite technologies.
• Cinematic Campaign — Play through a massive, high-budget single-player story featuring motion-captured performances from Hollywood talent like Gina Torres.
• Deep Customization — Tailor Jak’s playstyle using a massive skill tree and a deep gear-crafting system to enhance your favorite magical abilities.

Release Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 — August 22, 2023
• Xbox Series X/S — August 22, 2023
• Microsoft Windows (PC) — August 22, 2023