The creators behind Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian have fully unveiled their next game at Summer Game Fest. The project is called gen Atlas, a single-player open-world action-adventure set on an abandoned planet.
A new chapter from GenDesign
gen Atlas marks the first full game from GenDesign, the studio founded by Fumito Ueda after he left Sony and Team Ico in 2011. The game was first shown publicly under the name Project Robot with a short, moody trailer at The Game Awards 2024.
The project had already been in the works for years before that reveal. GenDesign first hinted at it in 2020, when the studio signed a publishing deal with Epic Games for the upcoming title.
What the game is about
GenDesign says the story begins with a simple but unsettling setup: “Without knowing why, you awaken on an abandoned planet.” The studio describes the world as vast and silent, with colossal structures spread across endless plains, deserted facilities, and an ever-changing sea.
The remains of some larger design are scattered across the planet’s surface, and that mystery sits at the center of the game’s atmosphere. GenDesign also says a colossal robot waits deeper in the world, and its power changes how players move through the environment and reach areas that were once out of reach.
The creative direction behind the project
Fumito Ueda, who serves as CEO and creative director of GenDesign, said the goal is to create “an experience that inspires moments of quiet wonder and discovery.” That description fits the studio’s long-running reputation for games that focus on mood, movement, and emotional scale rather than nonstop action.
The reveal keeps that identity intact while placing it in a larger open-world structure. The abandoned planet setting, the silent landscapes, and the giant robot all suggest a game built around exploration and visual storytelling.
Platforms and release status
gen Atlas does not have a release date yet. GenDesign says the game is planned for PlayStation 5, Windows PC through the Epic Games Store, and Xbox Series X.
The reveal at Summer Game Fest gives the project its clearest look so far, but the studio is still keeping major details under wraps. What is already clear is that GenDesign is aiming for another atmospheric action-adventure that leans on mystery, scale, and discovery.
Read more at: www.polygon.com
