Rune: Ragnarok – Open World Viking RPG Announced

The viking-themed action-adventure Rune by Human Head Studios was released back in 2000, and I quite enjoyed it back in the day. In fact, I’ve recently replayed it, and it holds up pretty well. One thing it is not, however, is an RPG. That’s why the announcement that Human Head Studios is now working on a sequel entitled Rune: Ragnarok, and that sequel is going to be an open world action-RPG, took me by surprise.

According to the announcement, the game will be set in a dangerous Norse world during the end of days, and we, the player, will have to ally ourselves with one of the gods in order to bring Ragnarok to its logical conclusion. And you know what? I’m not complaining. More Rune is good, and more RPGs is even better.

Peep this reveal trailer to get into the viking end of days mood:

And now, check out this press release that shares some additional details about the game:

MADISON, Wis. (Aug. 28, 2017) – Human Head Studios has revealed Rune: Ragnarok, a sandbox, open-world RPG set in a dangerous Norse universe during the end of days. A highly anticipated follow-up to Rune, the team’s hit action-adventure game, Rune: Ragnarok places players in the middle of an epic battle where gods, beasts, and the last remaining humans struggle to survive.

By pledging allegiance to one of the Norse gods, players gain favor and special abilities to aid them as they raid enemy villages, fight the undead in brutal melee combat, sail to new lands, and craft powerful weapons to complete the goals of their god and conclude Ragnarok.

From Project Director Chris Rhinehart: “After seventeen years, we are thrilled to finally announce a new Rune game. In the spirit of the original, Rune: Ragnarok has intense and brutal combat in a world steeped in Norse mythology. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve created.”

Development of Rune: Ragnarok is being funded by ESDF Management, a video game production and finance company.

“Rune: Ragnarok is the first video game we’ve committed to financing. We’re incredibly excited to support the vision that our partners at Human Head Studios have offered for long-time fans and newcomers to Rune alike,” said ESDF Managing Partner, Matt Candler.

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About Human Head Studios

Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, Human Head Studios is an independent studio with more than 20 years of experience designing and developing commercial video games. Having worked on almost two dozen projects, the studio is best known for its critically acclaimed, award-winning titles Rune and Prey. Human Head has also contributed to the development of mega hits Bioshock Infinite, World of Tanks, and Batman: Arkham Origins. The studio is currently hard at work on multiple projects for PC and next-gen consoles. For more information, visit www.humanhead.com.

About ESDF Management

ESDF Management is a California-based video game production and finance company, led by a veteran team with experience in fundraising, development, and marketing. Backed by some of the best partners and investors in the industry, ESDF is focused on working with top creative talent to make fun, high-quality games and world-class intellectual property. For more information, visit https://esdfmgt.com.