Possessor(s) is a game about hot demons and other things

Engadget - Apr 9th, 2025

Heart Machine, the studio behind titles like Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, has announced their latest game, Possessor(s), set to release in 2025 for PC and PS5. The game features a stylish, sidescrolling sci-fi action narrative set in the dystopian ruins of Sanzu. Players will follow Luca, a possessed teenager, as she navigates a world filled with interdimensional horrors and corporate greed, showcasing a mix of combat and visual novel mechanics. Key figures behind the project include Alx Preston, Myriame Lachapelle, Tyler Hutchison, and Laura Michet, who emphasized the importance of captivating character design.

Heart Machine's new venture marks a significant departure from its previous works, embracing a unique blend of 2D hand-drawn art and narrative depth. The game explores themes of corporate control and youthful rebellion, with players encountering branching storylines and a quarantined cityscape. This project also reflects the studio's continuous evolution and willingness to tackle new creative challenges, as described by founder Alx Preston at GDC 2025. Published by Devolver Digital, Possessor(s) signifies a bold step into new territory for Heart Machine, both in gameplay and thematic exploration.

Devolver Digital Heart Machine Possessor(s) Alx Preston Gdc 2025 Sci Fi Action Game Interdimensional Horrors Corporate Dystopia

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.6

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of Heart Machine's upcoming game, *Possessor(s)*, with a strong focus on developer insights and the game's thematic elements. It excels in accuracy, offering well-supported claims about the game's premise, mechanics, and development process. The engaging narrative and clear structure make it accessible to its target audience, though the use of gaming jargon might limit broader readability.

While the article is timely and relevant to current gaming trends, it primarily presents the developers' perspectives, lacking a diversity of viewpoints that could enrich the narrative. The focus on entertainment limits its broader public interest and impact, though the game's themes of corporate critique and youth empowerment offer potential for deeper exploration.

Overall, the article effectively captures the excitement surrounding *Possessor(s)* and provides valuable insights into its development. However, incorporating more diverse perspectives and exploring the game's societal themes in greater depth could enhance its appeal and impact beyond the gaming community.

Accuracy

The story about Heart Machine's upcoming game, *Possessor(s)*, is largely accurate. The article correctly outlines the game's premise, setting, and characters, such as the city of Sanzu and the protagonist Luca. It also accurately describes the game's development process and the involvement of key team members like Alx Preston. The story's claims about the game's style and mechanics are well-supported by external sources, including trailers and official announcements. However, while the narrative mentions the game's branching paths, it lacks detailed verification on how these paths are structured, which slightly affects its precision.

Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of the game's developers, particularly focusing on their creative intentions and the game's thematic elements. While it offers a deep dive into the developers' viewpoints, it does not provide contrasting opinions or external critiques, which could have enriched the narrative. The focus on the developers' perspectives leads to an imbalance, as it omits potential consumer or critical viewpoints that could offer a broader understanding of the game's reception.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear, engaging language to convey its points. The narrative flows logically, introducing the game, its setting, and its characters in a coherent manner. The tone is enthusiastic and matches the subject matter, making the content accessible and engaging for readers interested in gaming. However, the use of jargon specific to the gaming industry, such as 'platform fighters' and 'visual novel mechanics,' might require additional explanation for readers unfamiliar with these terms.

Source quality

The article relies heavily on direct quotes from the game's developers, which are credible sources for information about the game. This direct attribution lends authority to the claims made in the article. However, the reliance on a single source type—developer interviews—limits the breadth of perspectives and independent verification that could enhance the story's credibility. Incorporating insights from game critics or industry analysts could have provided a more rounded perspective.

Transparency

The article provides clear attributions to the developers and mentions their statements from GDC 2025, which helps in understanding the basis for the claims made. However, it lacks transparency regarding the methodology used to gather information, such as whether the author had firsthand experience with the game or relied solely on interviews. Additionally, potential conflicts of interest, such as relationships between the author and the developers, are not disclosed, which could impact the perceived impartiality of the piece.