Check Out the New Behind-the-Scenes of Aether & Iron
Seismic Squirrel has released the sixth developer diary for Aether & Iron, offering a deeper look into how player choice drives the game’s narrative. Titled “Creating Player Choice,” the latest behind-the-scenes episode features Narrative Director Tyler Whitney discussing the studio’s evolving approach to building a branching RPG story.
In the video, Whitney explains how the creation of the protagonist, Gia, became central to shaping the game’s decision-making system. Drawing inspiration from noir fiction of the 1930s to 1950s, the team focused on crafting choices that feel natural to Gia’s personality and the smuggler-noir setting. Rather than punishing players for wrong decisions, the design ensures that every choice, including mistakes, opens up new paths. This approach allows the narrative to remain fluid, with outcomes that feel both meaningful and consistent with the character.
Set in an alternate version of 1930s New York, the game imagines a towering vertical city powered by “aether”. It’s a mysterious element that enables anti-gravity technology. Players step into Gia’s shoes as she navigates a world of crime syndicates, shifting alliances, and political intrigue. Here, each decision influences relationships and the broader fate of the city.
Aether & Iron launches on Steam on March 31, 2026. The game will feature full English voice acting along with text localization in multiple languages. This includes Spanish, French, German, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese.