On November 3, solarpunk life-sim MMO Loftia launches into Early Access, ready to take gamers above the clouds to a cozy world of cooperation, creation and hope for the future. Fly alongside Intel Gaming Access as we chat with Michael Su, co-founder and studio director of Sydney-based Qloud Games.
It Takes a Village
Loftia is where individual dreams come together to build a beautiful future for all. Su explains: ‘Loftia is a cozy social MMO about building a solarpunk life in the sky with the community. Build your dream home, farm using sustainable methods (such as hydroponics), explore vast floating islands, adopt cute pets, and tackle cooperative adventures. You can also contribute to building a shared online world that grows over time. We designed Loftia for anyone looking for a place where they can relax, express themselves, and feel at home within a wider community.’
And if anyone’s not 100% on what solarpunk means, Su offers this: ‘Loftia is inspired by a genre that imagines an optimistic future where nature, technology and humanity co-exist in harmony. Rather than focusing on survival in a post-apocalyptic world, Loftia is about building a brighter future together.’
That future involves all the things Qloud, and gamers, love about cozy games and online worlds. Su adds: ‘We also felt there was an opportunity to give cozy gamers more ways to play and connect with others, while offering MMO players a place to slow down and relax. Some of our biggest inspirations include Club Penguin, MapleStory, Stardew Valley and World of Warcraft!’
The home you build is not just your own. ‘Players can build neighborhoods together, and contribute to community-wide projects that unlock new parts of the world. We want players to feel like they’re truly part of a living community.’
Add a Little Tension
This feelgood title is still set in a post-apocalyptic world, and Loftia uses this to add layers of mystery and exploration. ‘[As well as] colorful environments, endearing characters, and relaxing activities, there’s also a deeper story waiting to be discovered,’ Su shares. ‘Players discover abandoned cities, underground ruins, and remnants of the past. We’ve put a lot of thought into the history and lore of this world, and we’re really excited for players to piece together its mysteries.’
One tension Qloud didn’t want players to experience was any feeling of community pressure or obligation. ‘Finding that balance between meaningful social interactions and players enjoying the game at their own pace has been an ongoing push and pull, and we feel hopeful about where we’ve landed. Through our Alpha and Beta playtests, we’ve learned from watching how players interact with the world, discover unexpected ways to play, and form communities of their own. Their feedback has been invaluable.’
Hit the Performance Heights
‘Loftia is a beautiful, vibrant world,’ Su says, ‘and we want as many players as possible to experience it without sacrificing visual quality or smooth gameplay. Players on more modest setups can enjoy the game, while those with more powerful PCs can experience Loftia in all its detail.’ Performance without sacrifice is what Intel XeSS can deliver. ‘This is our first time working with Intel XeSS,’ Su says, ‘and the integration process has been really straightforward. With Loftia being built in Unreal Engine, we were able to integrate XeSS through the Unreal Engine plugin and connect it directly to our in-game graphics settings with minimal effort, which is incredibly efficient for a small indie studio like ours.’
Coming Soon
Loftia launches on November 3, and Qloud aims to supply its floating islands with new content, new areas to explore, and more adventures. We’ll leave the last words on it to Su: ‘Whether you’re a longtime cozy gamer, an MMO enthusiast, or completely new to gaming, we hope Loftia can become a place you call home.’
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