ESTABLISHED
World and narrative foundation
The collapse chronology, Victoria, the three factions and the public world structure are defined.
SUNDERKEY STUDIOS / IN DEVELOPMENT
BUILDING THE
VERTICAL SLICE
The Neydra Protocol is being developed as an independent near-future action RPG. This page tracks the current prototype, next milestone and public development notes.
DEVELOPMENT RECORD / JULY 2026
CURRENT PRODUCTION STATUS
FROM WORLD FOUNDATION
TO PLAYABLE PROTOTYPE
The current work connects the world, opening sequence, narrative systems and bow-based combat into one focused playable section in Unreal Engine 5.
- STATUS
- In development
- STUDIO
- Sunderkey Studios
- GENRE
- Near-future action RPG
- ENGINE
- Unreal Engine 5
- RELEASE DATE
- To be announced
- PLATFORMS
- To be announced
IN PROGRESS
Open-world environment prototype
Large-scale terrain, rivers, settlements and region loading are being developed in Unreal Engine 5.
IN PROGRESS
Opening sequence and audio
The opening salvage run, discovery sequence and orchestral transitions are being prototyped in separate parts.
NEXT MILESTONE
Playable vertical slice
The next goal is a focused playable section that connects exploration, narrative events and combat.
Development status updated July 2026. Features, presentation and release information may change.
PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT LOG
WORK CURRENTLY
IN PROGRESS
Short public notes based on the systems, environments and presentation currently being developed.
Terrain and river definition
The Unreal Engine landscape prototype is being refined to produce clearer rivers and reliable open-world regions.
VIEW CURRENT FOCUS
- Terrain readability at travelling speed
- Rivers as natural route boundaries
- Reliable loading between prototype regions
From salvage run to discovery
The playable opening is being staged as a routine salvage run that escalates through military pressure and ends at an abandoned research site.
VIEW CURRENT FOCUS
- Clear salvage objective
- Escalation without a lore-heavy prologue
- A discovery that raises questions without answering them
Movement and bow combat
Traversal and bow-based combat are being tested together so that observation, positioning and escape remain as important as direct confrontation.
VIEW CURRENT FOCUS
- Readable bow encounters
- Movement through damaged urban spaces
- Transitions between stealth, combat and retreat
Consequences before scale
The first narrative prototype focuses on a small mission chain with visible consequences rather than trying to simulate the entire faction conflict at once.
VIEW CURRENT FOCUS
- One complete mission chain
- Two meaningful decision points
- Faction response communicated through the world
A restrained playable introduction
Short cinematic moments are being used to establish Victoria, the salvage route and the shift from routine work to immediate danger.
VIEW CURRENT FOCUS
- Opening character introduction
- Seamless return to player control
- Chapter transition after the discovery sequence
A modular opening score
The opening music is being developed as connected fragments: restrained exploration, a faster escape passage and a quieter aftermath.
VIEW CURRENT FOCUS
- A recurring melodic identity
- Exploration, escape and aftermath variants
- Dark orchestral texture without overpowering the scene
World data as recovered records
Territory, faction and archive interfaces now share the visual language of incomplete public records rather than presenting every world fact as absolute truth.
VIEW CURRENT FOCUS
- Clear public versus restricted status
- Consistent terminology
- Readable layouts on desktop and mobile
The concept website goes online
The public chronology, factions, outbreak record and Sunderkey Studios identity are now collected in one spoiler-light website.
VIEW CURRENT FOCUS
- Separate world, archive and development routes
- Spoiler-light public copy
- A foundation for future project updates
PUBLIC PROJECT STATUS
FOLLOW THE PROJECT
AS IT DEVELOPS
Wishlist, newsletter and community links will be added when those channels open. Until then, new public development notes will appear here.