The Ascent (video game)
A cyberpunk action RPG set in a collapsing arcology.
The Ascent is a cyberpunk action role-playing game from Swedish developer Neon Giant, published by Curve Digital and Krafton. It launched for Windows, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One on 29 July 2021, followed by PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions on 24 March 2022. Built with Unreal Engine 4 by a twelve-person team, it marks Neon Giant’s first title. Critics praised its visuals, combat, and soundtrack, but noted an over-reliance on grinding.
In gameplay, the isometric perspective and twin-stick shooting allow players to aim high or low, distinguishing between near and far enemies. This feeds into a cover system where players can shoot over environmental props. Characters are fully customizable, with cyberware upgrades unlocking new skills and abilities. A cyberdeck device enables hacking into locked areas and lootable chests. The environment is destructible, reacting to bullets, skills, and explosions. Fast travel uses a subway system and paid taxis, though elevators separating the four main zones—Deepstink, Warrens, High Street, and The Pinnacle—as well as subway and taxi cutscenes, function as loading screens despite IGN’s claim of “essentially no loading screens.” Defeated enemies drop loot of varying rarities, and items come from missions, exploration, or vendors. Modes include single-player, local co-op, and online co-op for up to four players.
The story unfolds in an arcology on the dystopian world Veles, ruled by the megacorporation The Ascent Group. Players control an indentured worker. When the company mysteriously collapses, the arcology descends into chaos as districts, syndicates, and rival corporations vie for power. The player must stop these factions and uncover the truth behind the corporation’s fall.
Development began with Neon Giant, a twelve-person studio. On 28 June 2018, Epic Games awarded the team a grant between $5,000 and $50,000 for an unannounced cyberpunk project. By May 2019, Neon Giant had a deal with Microsoft, whose excitement was immediate, according to creative director Tor Frick. The game drew inspiration from 2000 AD comics and the Robocop series.
- Developer
- Neon Giant
- Publisher
- Curve Digital, Krafton
- Release date
- 29 July 2021 (Windows, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One); 24 March 2022 (PS4, PS5)
- Genre
- Action role-playing, twin-stick shooter
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Team size
- 12 people
- Modes
- Single-player, local co-op, online co-op (up to 4 players)
Lore & Background
The Ascent takes place within an arcology in a futuristic dystopian world known as Veles, controlled by a powerful megacorporation called 'The Ascent Group'. Players assume control of a worker enslaved by the company. After the mysterious collapse of The Ascent Group, the arcology descends into a chaotic free-for-all pitting districts, syndicates and rival corporations against each other for control. The player's role is to stop other factions from seizing control and uncover the mystery behind the demise of The Ascent Group.
Gameplay is presented from an isometric view and is a twin-stick shooter. It includes the ability to aim both high and low on enemy targets, allowing the player to differentiate between shooting enemies closer or further away. This mechanic is key to the game's cover system. The player can fully customize their character's appearance and augment their character with cyberware upgrades to get new skills and abilities. Players have an upgradeable cyberdeck device used to hack into locked areas and loot certain chests. The game features a destructible environment, a fast travel system via subway and taxi, and an open world that IGN described as having 'essentially no loading screens', though elevators and travel cut-scenes serve as loading screens.
The Ascent was developed by Neon Giant, a team of 12 people. On 28 June 2018, Epic Games awarded Neon Giant a grant based on their work on an unannounced title set in a 'brand new cyberpunk world', receiving between $5,000 and $50,000. Around May 2019, Neon Giant struck a deal with Microsoft. The game's inspiration came from 2000 AD comics and the Robocop series. The release of Cyberpunk 2077 around the same time proved frustrating as the two games' worlds feature several similarities, though Neon Giant was unaware of these until late in development. Composer Paweł Błaszczak wrote the score, with a runtime of 114 minutes and 30 tracks, featuring licensed artists such as Maximum Love.
Reader's Guide
The Ascent is significant as the debut title of Neon Giant, a small Swedish studio of 12 people, demonstrating that a compact team could produce a visually ambitious cyberpunk action RPG using Unreal Engine 4. Its release on multiple platforms and inclusion in Xbox Game Pass upon launch helped it reach a wide audience, generating over $5 million in sales during its opening weekend and becoming the number one top-selling game worldwide on Steam's global charts. The game received mixed to favorable reviews, with critics praising its visuals, combat, and soundtrack while noting issues with grinding, story, and character memorability. It was nominated for Action Game of the Year at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. The Ascent's legacy lies in its role as a successful indie-scale project that competed in a crowded cyberpunk genre space, and its downloadable content pack Cyber Heist, released on August 18, 2022, added new locations, missions, and melee weapons. The game's development story—including an Epic Games grant and a Microsoft deal—highlights how independent studios can leverage partnerships to bring ambitious projects to market.
Did You Know?
- The Ascent was developed by a team of only 12 people.
- The game's composer, Paweł Błaszczak, also wrote music for The Witcher and Dying Light.
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