Sale starting: 29 April 2022 at 10am PT / 6pm BST Sale ends: 13 May 2022 at 10am PT / 6pm BST
đ» 3D sound-based AI system as the core survival mechanic. đ» Realistic visuals featuring 4k uncapped on PC (1080p 60fps minimum). đ» A chilling story inspired by Welsh folklore fusing psychological, gothic and British horror. đ» Re-imagining of famous Welsh hymns Calon LĂąn (A Pure Heart), Suo-GĂąn (Welsh Lullaby) and Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night) from the spine-chilling voice of Tia Kalmaru.
If you have any questions youâd like to see added, weâd love to hear it! Please leave a comment here (or reach us on Twitter, Reddit) for the developers to curate and answer.
We will be updating the FAQ as we continue to develop the game, answering more questions while also updating ones weâve answered previously. You will find more detailed information about the game in our weekly Developer Updates!
What is Sker Ritual?
Sker Ritual is the spiritual successor to our award-winning, single-player horror game, Maid of Sker. Inspired by the Maid of Sker Challenge mode, we wanted to allow our players to play with friends online, and explore what we could achieve in an online co-op multiplayer.
What type of gameplay can we expect?
Sker Ritual is a co-op wave shooter first and foremost but it will feature in-game challenges, tasks, and some soon-to-be-revealed events, which will reward you with story content (as well as unlockable content). The choice is yours, play solo if you're brave enough or grab up to 4 players to tackle the onslaught of Quiet men together.
What time period is this game going to be set in?
Set shortly after the events of Maid of Sker, Sker Ritual takes place in the early-1900s with a little more of a steampunk influence. There is action, adventure, survival horror, mystery, and a little gothic science fiction. Sker Hotel has moved on a little since you last saw it, it's now in the 20th Century and has a few surprises still to come.
Why Wales?
As a team of Welsh developers (some are adopted), we believe there is a rich talent pool, history, and mythology available in Wales that deserves to be discovered. For those across the pond who may not know, although we are joined with England by land, and we are part of Great Britain, Wales is a country in its own right. Not to be confused with the Australian state New South Wales, Wales is the one with the dragon on the flag!
Will there be a beta?
Yes! We hope to bring you a beta phase opportunity soon. Our development team are working tirelessly to bring you the smoothest multiplayer experience. We strongly recommend subscribing to our newsletters, forums and socials to ensure you don't miss out on an exclusive beta opportunity. See below for all our sign-up links.
What weapons are going to be in Sker Ritual?
Those following our Developer Updates get a sneak peek into The Laughing Policeman's Magnificent Munitions shop where base weapons can be bought at high-risk locations. The real fun comes with the unique weapon upgrades at The Laughing Policeman's Super Charger (remember we mentioned our Steampunk influence?). Weâve barely scratched the surface here, we have so much more to reveal soon!
What maps are included?
We're bringing you âThe Cursed Lands of Lavernockâ, get to know it better in our series of updates where we highlighted the abandoned Cathedral, the underground living quarters, the ancient farmland and â a mysterious looking chamber? Stay tuned in and subscribe to the Sker Ritual Steam Community for updates on what's next for the locations in Sker Ritual.
Who are the enemies?
The Quiet Ones have returned, only now they seem a little more... undead. Maid of Sker fans might also recognise a new and improved Blazeslinger, Banshee, Mariner and Phantom in the Developer Update #2. These juggernauts are tough to take down and each have a unique set of abilities that will force you to change-up your playstyle, change your location, or enlist the help of your teammates! Old enemies aren't the only ones to curse the lands of Sker, we have many more new faces â even some without faces â to show you.
When is the release? Will there be pre-order? How much will it cost?
The release details will be confirmed in due time, please follow, Wishlist and join our newsletter to be first to know.
Missed a Developer Update? Catch up here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1492070/view/4330775883771676651 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1492070/view/3127189423510586253 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1492070/view/3127189423510590374
Sneak Peek #3 - Weapons and Upgrades
ROLL UP! ROLL UP!
GET YOUR MAGNIFICENT MUNITIONS AT THE LAUGHING POLICEMAN!
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show!
Introducing the maniacal, the mechanical, the malevolent, The Magnificent Munitions at The Laughing Policeman!
Get your guns, ammo, and more at The Laughing Policemanâs booth at various locations in the world.
The Laughing Policemen has an arsenal filled with weapons of the highest calibre perfect for battling your way through the Quiet Ones with or without your friends.
Some of the base weapons at The Laughing Policemanâs Magnificent Munitions include a wide variety of weapons, including assault rifles, single or double-barrel shotguns, pistols and revolvers, hunting rifles and more! Choose wisely you can only hold two weapons at a time!
Short on ammo? Stock up at his Ammo Blammo machines and never get caught short between the waves of Quiet Ones.
Be sure to be on the lookout for The Laughing Policemanâs Super Charger, but remember itâs location, thereâs only one in "The Cursed Lands of Lavernock". At The Laughing Policemanâs Super Charger, you can upgrade any weapon in your inventory, but for a price...
A dev team favourite weapon is the double-barrelled shotgun, itâs great for getting up close and personal with the Quiet Ones and causing an absolute bloodbath. Just a regular old shotgun? Well yes, until it meets The Laughing Policemanâs Super Charger! Youâll be able to upgrade your favourite as long as you can pay the fee...
Each upgrade gives the shotgun that extra oomph with enhanced properties with a particular playstyle in-mind which is needed when you get further into the onslaught of waves or the show will end mid-act.
The Magnificent Munitions at The Laughing Policeman is waiting for you, WISHLIST and FOLLOW now for your ticket to the show!
Let's hear from you What do you think? What are you most looking forward to? Any concerns? How would you like our community to grow?
- Wales Interactive Team
Missed a Developer Update? Catch up here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1492070/view/4330775883771676651 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1492070/view/3127189423510586253
Developer Update #2 - The Cursed Lands of Lavernock
Hey everyone,
Itâs time for a sneak preview and we want to share with you âThe Cursed Lands of Lavernockâ.
In "The Cursed Lands of Lavernock", players will be exploring a new area of Sker Island taking on waves of the "Quiet Ones". From a small fishing village to a secret underground Laboratory, players will have to use their wits to survive the onslaught and complete their mission across an abandoned Cathedral and areas reminiscent of Sker Hotel.
The long since Abandoned Cathedral now lays host to ritualistic effigies, with plenty of hidden passages for the Quiet Ones to hunt from
The Underground Living Quarters holds many secrets, twisting and turning, with areas easily overwhelmed if youâre not careful
The Ancient Farmland is the perfect place for a respite, or an ambush, watch out for the remains of the Quiet Ones previous victims, you canât save them now
The Mysterious Chamber holds the unknown behind its doors, only the brave can discover
In Sker Ritual, players will come up against the turned residents of Sker Island. These new "Quiet Ones" pose no real threat to the players but make sure to keep their numbers low or otherwise they will overwhelm you and cause a lot of trouble.
But be careful some are bigger and badder than ever! The Blazeslinger, Banshee, Mariner, and Phantom are familiar faces and if youâve played Maid of Sker Challenge mode, you know not to get too close and personal to these elite Quiet Ones.
The Blazeslinger is a little hot-headed, capable of fire attacks at range, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend, wear him down and he might be your best friend.
Disorientating with her sonic screams The Banshee has the ability to seemingly appear out of thin air, right behind you.
Lost to the depths The Mariner, somehow now returned and vengeful, his helmet is his power with laser precision you need to stay out of his line of âsightâ
Evening the playing field, he canât see you and you canât see him, The Phantom aim carefully or you might just miss him but he will find you.
Thank you for joining us in our series of developer updates, explaining more about Sker Ritual and answering even more of your questions. We are a team of 12 Welsh developers, the same team that maidâ sorry, made âMaid of Sker. Despite our small size weâre always scouting the forums (and Twitter) and do read all of your questions and comments, so weâd like to try and answer these right now and in the following developer updates.
To co-op or not With Sker Ritual we aim to bring you and your friends together in an online co-op shooter that leads on from the story of Maid of Sker. You can still tackle the onslaught and discover the story alone, just in case youâre not feeling very social [we get that] but itâs most enjoyed playing with up to a 4-strong team, whether they be friends or future-friends from online matchmaking.
Continuing the Sker Sker Ritual does have some familiar faces and a story that leads on from Maid of Sker (more about that soon!) but it is not Maid of Sker 2. Sker Ritual has so many new and familiar faces. We love the characters we created in Maid of Sker and wanted to see how far we could push character creation from a multiplayer perspective within what is already a sker-y world.
SO, WEN GAME?? The game is based after the events of Maid of Sker, in the Victorian era but with a little more of a steampunk influence that was touched on in the single-player horror. Make no mistake this is a wave shooter with a well-written story campaign built-in. Expect close-up action, dark adventure, zombie-esque survival, lots of customization, and some gothic science fiction for good measure. Sker Hotel has moved on a little since you last saw it, it's now in the 20th Century and has a few surprises still to come.
We are working hard to bring you an exciting, high-quality, multiplayer experience and we canât wait to connect with new and existing fans. Stay tuned for dev update 'dwy' (two) coming soon.
The award-winning survival horror Maid of Sker is now on sale with 60% off for a limited time only! đ»
Wander the halls of Sker Hotel with 3D sound-based AI system as the core survival mechanic and realistic visuals featuring 4k uncapped on PC (1080p 60fps minimum). Uncover the chilling story inspired by Welsh folklore combining psychological, gothic and British Horror!
[previewyoutube="Ewkx5eBlOEs;full"]
đâDon't miss out on our Wales Interactive Massive Festive Giveawayđ đ
Win awesome prizes including a Maid of Sker Teddy Bear, Maid of Sker T-shirt, Maid of Sker Mug, Maid of Sker Stickers, Maid of Sker Limited Edition Vinyl, The Shapeshifting Detective Boxed Edition AND Digital Game Codes.
The new modes showcase a brand new set of game mechanics with the introduction of first-person shooting amongst some new and familiar enemies from Sker Hotel, each buffed with their own unique powerful abilities.
[previewyoutube="6lyGF9poBAc;full"]
Enter Sker Hotel... the Quiet Ones are waiting for you...
Join our Wales Interactive Massive Festive Giveaway Now!
HO HO HO! We have an early Christmas present for you to start 2022 off with a bang!
Win awesome prizes including a Maid of Sker Teddy Bear, Maid of Sker T-shirt, Maid of Sker Mug, Maid of Sker Stickers, Maid of Sker Limited Edition Vinyl, The Shapeshifting Detective Boxed Edition AND Digital Game Codes.
With 1st Prize, 2nd Prize, 3rd Prize AND 7 WILDCARD PRIZES what are you waiting for?
Have you nominated Maid of Sker in the 2021 Steam Awards, "Labor of Love" Award yet? Don't miss out, nominate now!
Nominations are open until this Wednesday, December 1st (10AM PST)
Sker Island has changed. Bring your friends.
The co-op survival FPS and spiritual successor to the award-winning occult horror, Maid of Sker. Play solo or up to 4 players to survive the supernatural menace of the Quiet Ones.
Bloodshore is set to wash up on all platforms starting November 3. To celebrate, check out Bloodshore's trailer below!
Players must battle out in a dystopian battle royale set on a mysterious island location; where influencers, death row inmates and failing celebrities compete for a life-changing cash prize and all the attention they could ever want. Bloodshore will arrive on November 3 for PC, PS4, PS5 (bc), Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X (bc), Nintendo Switch, Mac, and iOS.
[previewyoutube="pCtjHdd_Evg;full"]
What do you think?! We want to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Want to find out more about each character? We'll be posting a new character bio every day on our Twitter page (or you can wait for our next Steam blog post)
Wishlist the game to stay up-to-date with the news!