Not long ago, the world of survival crafting adventureNightingalewas shattered by the Pale, an apocalyptic event that permanently blended the human world and the Fae Realms. Now, figures from history and literature coexist with the mysterious, mischievous Fae in a gaslamp fantasy alternate reality. As solo or co-op players explore the world ofNightingale,they will encounter strange artifacts, portals between worlds, unusual creatures, and many potential allies and enemies, both human and Fae.
Game Rant recently spoke with several developers at Inflexion Games, including CEO Aaryn Flynn and art director Neil Thompson,about creating the rich, complex world of the Fae Realms and the bustling titular city. They talked about influences behind their portrayal of the Fae, which ranged from Shakespeare to Suzanna Clarke, and how they utilized real-world events to effectively portray the spreading influence of the world-changing Pale. Players will soon be able to dive intoNightingalein Early Accessand discover these worlds and characters for themselves.The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
The Pale Starts and Ends the World of Nightingale
Q: What was the world of Nightingale like before the Pale? How much of its history differed from the real world?
Thompson:Humanity andthe Faehave known about and interacted with each other for centuries. One of the first tasks when constructing the lore was to create an alternate historical timeline in which real-world events are described through the lens of the existence of the Fae and magick.
Q: Is there anythingNightingaleplayers should know about the time before The Pale as they dive into the game?
Thompson:Not really! Players will learn more about the history ofNightingaleas they play, through interacting with NPCs in the Realms and unlocking codex entries that delve deeper into the lore of our universe.
Q: The Pale is one of many apocalyptic events that define a game world. What does this kind of storytelling add to video games?
Thompson:ForNightingaleas a survival crafting experience, we wanted an event that was sudden and destructive in order to wrench the player from a normal existence and into a situation where survival in its most basic form becomes a priority. It’s literally a breaking down of the inter-Realmic infrastructure that humans have come to rely upon for travel. As a result, you, as a player trying to seek sanctuary within the city of Nightingale, find yourself cast asunder in a strange and dangerous place with only the clothes on your back.
The City of Nightingale is at The Heart of the Game
Q: Why did you decide to set the game in 1889 specifically?
Thompson:The Pale flows out of the Paris Portal, located in theEiffel Tower, and the date coincides with the Paris World Fair. This seemed an opportunity too good to miss, as there would be many travelers in the city already, all seeking a way home in the ensuing panic.
Q: Can you talk about the core design of Nightingale City? What all influenced its design, and will it be possible to reach it during Early Access?
Thompson:The City of Nightingale is based on 4 quadrants, and exists on either side of a large river. Each sector has its own Portal, (or “Transept”) housed within a structure of architectural significance and “stewarded” by separate factions that exist within the socio-political makeup of the city.
The Factions controlling the Four Transepts are loosely based on the concepts of science, faith, magic, and spirituality, which define the eternal conflict. They differ in age; the Transept within the Calcularium is a human-built portal that is relatively recent and marks humanity’s first attempt to create the framework within which Portal magick can exist. Meanwhile, theDruidicPortal in the Crystal Palace is so ancient that it is little more than a series of standing stones.
The major buildings within the city are visually inspired by real places. The Astrarium is based on the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the Calcularium is very closely based on the Natural History Museum in London, the NTTC HQ is The Liver Building in Liverpool on steroids… and so on.
The Fae and Humanity Have an Important Relationship
Q: How did the team approach the overall depiction of the Fae? Did any other common depictions, like inDungeons and Dragons,influence the team?
Thompson:The main inspiration comes from a character called The Gentleman from Suzanna Clarke’sJonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell- more specifically, as he was portrayed in the BBC dramatization of the book by Marc Warren. He captured a regal yet decadent, sinister, and otherworldly aura that was perfect for the depiction of a race who are powerful, fickle, capricious, and consumed by their own desires.
Q: The relationship between Fae and humans is clearly very important inNightingale.Is there any specific moral message behind this?
Flynn:While we didn’t choose the concept of the Fae influencing human development for any particular moral purpose, it’s been a great blank canvas for us to explore many moral messages with. For example, the complexities of hubris and the history of colonialism are two topics that reoccur often. Whenever we approach anything like this, we try to look at it from multiple perspectives and angles, showing all the greys amidst the black and white, as well as being sensitive in how we tackle the hard questions.
Q: Fae are commonly untrustworthy and tricky in media depictions. Is this still the case forNightingale,and, if so, were there any elements that the team really enjoyed implementing in this vein?
Flynn:Going into creating the world ofNightingale, we knew thatthe Fae are viewed in many different waysacross many different cultures. Untrustworthy tricksters are one of the main depictions. We leaned into that idea as well as many other beliefs about the Fae. We didn’t want to put them into one box. Not all Fae are the same, and players can see that as they unfold the lore of the various Fae courts.
That being said, it was fun to lean into the trickster element of Puck. He is the player’s narrator, guide, and friend… But can you trust him? It was a lot of fun to develop his character and motivations to keep players on their toes.
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Nightingale
WHERE TO PLAY
Nightingale is a PVE open-world survival crafting game played solo (offline or online), or cooperatively with friends. Build, craft, fight and explore as you venture through mystical portals into a variety of amazing and fantastical realms.You are stranded beyond our world, cut off by the collapse of the arcane portalnetwork. This catastrophe has left you fighting to survive in a labyrinth of beautiful and dangerous Fae realms.Your goal: become a skilled Realmwalker, and navigate the web of transdimensional portals. Only then can you discover your way to the magical city of Nightingale, the last known bastion of humanity.Prepare to make your way through Faewild forests, harrowing swamps, and shimmering deserts as you unlock the portals leading deeper into the lands of Fae. Cook meals, build shelter and muster the spirit to persevere in the face of adversity.
