Band of Crusaders, the Classics-Inspired Strategy RPG, Partners with GOG

Virtual Alchemy :

Warsaw, Poland. October 17, 2024 – Today, Virtual Alchemy,  the studio behind the newly-revealed strategy RPG Band of Crusaders, announces its arrival on GOG’s storefront. This move, driven by enthusiastic player feedback, will expand the game’s audience, reaching even more RPG and strategy fans via the GOG platform. Since its reveal on Steam, Band of Crusaders has gained significant traction, receiving heartfelt support from the gaming community. Now, with strong momentum and player-driven feedback, the game is expanding to the GOG platform, bringing dark lore and tactical depth to even more fans, on the game client of their choice. 

“Since its reveal, players have compared Band of Crusaders to beloved classics like Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age: Origins, Heroes of Might & Magic, and The Witcher", said Dominik Sypnicki, CEO of Virtual Alchemy. “The passion of the gaming community drove this collaboration, and we’re excited to bring Band of Crusaders to a broader audience.”   Band of Crusaders offers deep tactical real-time combat, featuring a unique Slow Motion mechanic - a modern reimagining of the classic Real-Time with Pause system. Player leads a party of medieval warriors through a dark, atmospheric world teeming with demons, many of which draw inspiration from European and Slavic folklore that resonate deeply with the Poland-based development team.
 
“The process of designing our demon enemies follows two main paths. The first is rooted in respecting the source material drawn from the very soil of Europe, along with its flora and fauna. Such pure manifestations of evil often take forms amalgamated from the bodies of fallen humans or animals, further twisted by unexplained mutations and merged with plant elements or shards of the earth itself”, explains Art Director Kamil Mickiewicz. "The second path draws upon biblical motifs, referring to descriptions of demons or the personifications of the Seven Deadly Sins. This approach strikes a far more metaphorical tone, creating creatures that embody not just grotesque terror but the very essence of humanity and the darker parts of medieval culture."   Much like the terrifying demons, the game’s world design features haunting medieval landscapes reminiscent of the eerie sceneries that share inspirations with the Witcher series. These environments not only serve as backdrops but also as active elements in the player's journey through this distorted version of medieval Europe.
  “This partnership with GOG feels like a natural fit," said Sypnicki. "Interestingly, what sparked this collaboration was an unexpected moment at Gamescom, where our booths were side by side. It was then that we realized both our teams had heard the same message loud and clear from players: they wanted Band of Crusaders on GOG. It felt like fate was guiding Band of Crusaders toward the GOG platform. Thanks to the players' enthusiasm, the decision came together swiftly.
  This move also aligns with Virtual Alchemy’s strategy to prioritize player expression. “Players sometimes prefer to have their games on Steam or other platforms and we want to support this freedom. We are among GOG users ourselves and play many titles from different genres, which is why we feel we fully understand this need” says Mickiewicz.   For more on Virtual Alchemy and their debut indie game, Band of Crusaders, join the Discord and follow them on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Players can wishlist the game on GOG and Steam to receive news on its upcoming release.