A game where every dice roll could be your last, and every choice carves a new path through a city of skyscrapers and secrets, arrives on PC this spring.
Aether & Iron drops players into an alternate 1930s New York—one where the discovery of 'aether,' a revolutionary anti-gravity material, has turned the city into a labyrinth of vertical slums, corporate towers, and hidden passageways. The game’s core premise is simple yet bold: you’re Gia, a smuggler navigating a world where the law is optional, and survival depends on both skill and luck. Combat unfolds in turn-based vehicular battles, where upgrading your fleet with weapons like flamethrowers or smoke dispensers isn’t just about style—it’s about outmaneuvering rivals in a city where the streets are stacked against you.
The twist? Your success isn’t guaranteed. Even with maxed-out stats in Hustle, Smarts, or Brass (your three core attributes), a single roll of the dice could mean the difference between a clean getaway and a bullet to the back. The game’s narrative weight lies in these moments—where companions with their own arcs, a conspiracy threatening the city’s fragile balance, and a cast of fully voiced characters (some tragic, some darkly humorous) collide.
Visually, *Aether & Iron* draws from the gritty aesthetics of 1930s detective pulp and Art Deco architecture, blending neon-lit alleyways with the opulence of aether-powered vehicles. The world isn’t just a backdrop; it reacts to your choices. Help the citizens find hope, or let the corruption deepen—either way, the city’s fate rests in your hands.
For those eager to test the waters, a free demo is already live, offering a taste of the turn-based combat and the game’s signature blend of tactical depth and narrative risk.
A Vertical City of Choices
New York in *Aether & Iron* isn’t just tall—it’s a pressure cooker of power, crime, and anti-gravity tech. The city’s vertical sprawl forces players to think in three dimensions, whether dodging patrols in hidden tunnels or outrunning rivals in mid-air chases. Your vehicle isn’t just a tool; it’s an extension of your playstyle. Want to bluff your way past checkpoints? Upgrade your Brass stat. Prefer hit-and-run tactics? Arm your car with hidden compartments and smoke screens. Every modification matters, but no build is foolproof—because in this world, luck is as sharp as your knives.
The companion system adds another layer of depth. Recruiting allies isn’t just about firepower; each has their own story, flaws, and moments where they might turn on you—or save your life. The game’s writing, crafted by veterans of *Mass Effect*, *Far Cry*, and *Sovereign Syndicate*, ensures that even the smallest decisions ripple through the city’s underworld.
Key Features
- Turn-Based Vehicular Combat: A tactical twist on traditional RPGs, where players assemble fleets of aether-powered vehicles—each with unique weapons, armor, and upgrades—to outmaneuver enemies in dynamic, turn-driven battles.
- Companion System: Recruit a crew of resourceful allies, each with their own skills, backstories, and moral ambiguities. Their loyalty—and survival—depends on your choices.
- Vertical City Design: New York is a maze of skyscrapers, hidden paths, and anti-gravity tech. Navigation isn’t just about movement; it’s about outsmarting a city that’s stacked against you.
- Narrative Consequences: Your decisions shape the city’s fate. Will you expose a conspiracy that could topple the corrupt elite, or play both sides to survive?
- Full Voice Acting: Every character, from street-level thugs to high-ranking mobsters, is brought to life with fully voiced performances, immersing players in a world where dialogue carries as much weight as combat.
- Attribute-Based Progression: Level up Hustle (street smarts), Smarts (tactical skills), and Brass (social influence) to excel in combat, stealth, and negotiation—but remember, no stat guarantees success.
- Demo Available Now: A free demo on Steam lets players experience the turn-based combat and narrative hook before the full release.
The game’s design ensures that no two playthroughs will feel identical. A smuggler’s life is unpredictable, and in *Aether & Iron*, that unpredictability is the heart of the experience. Will you rise to the top of the underworld, or get buried beneath the weight of your own choices?
Availability: *Aether & Iron* launches on PC (Steam) in Spring 2026, with full localization in English, Spanish, French, German, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese.
