Why Early Access?

“The game is already viable as a standalone product, but VR is a fledgling industry and input from the community is invaluable to make a good game great. There are some game features I believe would benefit from community involvement.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Only a few months, if all goes well.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“Multiplayer support is the main feature that I wish to implement before I am happy to make this a full release. Additional features on the table are extra locations and AI opponents. If time permits, I hope to add these before a full release, but they may be added in a future update instead.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Magician's Gambit is already a superb single player chess experience. At present, gameplay against a single AI opponent in a deserted tavern setting is supported. Chess logic is powered by the Stockfish Chess Engine, a very strong and highly regarded engine. A large range of AI difficulty is available - adjust the difficulty to suit your competency, from beginner to levels that few, if any, human players would be able to beat. Powered by Unreal Engine 4 and delivering graphic fidelity rarely seen in a chess game, Magician's Gambit is polished to a high sheen in this Early Access version.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Probably, yes. With the addition of Multiplayer (and hopefully the extra planned content), I believe a price increase would be warranted.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“I'm hoping to get feedback on VR gameplay, controls, difficulty level and additional features that I did not prioritise for the initial release. There may even be some features that, depending on scope, could be later added in DLC if not feasible in the first release.”