Killers and Thieves is out now, from Banner Saga co-creator Alex Thomas

Greetings, loyal Stoic fans!

We will have more to report about Banner Saga 3 very soon, but in the meantime we have some exciting news about Stoic’s debut as a publisher.

Alex Thomas, co-founder of Stoic and co-creator of the Banner Saga, has just released his first solo project Killers and Thieves with the help of Stoic. This is a different kind of game from their signature viking epic but shares a lot of its DNA. As part of the Stoic community, we want you to be among the first to know.

Killers and Thieves puts players into the role of the guildmaster, the shadowy figure lying at the heart of a medieval thieves’ guild. Recruit street rats, train them up into highly-skilled burglars and cutthroats, and then set them loose in a vast, living city. It’s available now, and you can find more info and a trailer on Steam:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/382330/Killers_and_Thieves/

The heart of the game is the heist, featuring tactical real-time action as you control your crew as they break into buildings, dodge guard patrols, snatch everything valuable and then vanish into the shadows. At least, that’s the idea; all too often, emergent gameplay factors will turn your carefully laid plans into a blood-soaked mess.

The world reacts to how you play, and while you are patching up the wounded and selling your ill-gotten goods on the black market, guard patrols will shift and challenge levels will change. You can adapt as well, staking out the wealthiest and least guarded parts of the city, picking your own targets, and the open-ended experience is tied together by a compelling story of betrayal and revenge.

Alex’s gorgeous art has drawn inspiration from paintings and prints from the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, giving it a warm, hand-made feel. Don’t be fooled, though: this game is tough. Keeping the books balanced won’t be easy, and professional criminals are unforgiving when they don’t get paid.

For those eagerly awaiting more details about Banner Saga 3, the good news is that with Killers and Thieves completed and released, Alex is now returning to write the finale of the grim viking epic full-time. The band is back together and working hard, though there is still a long road ahead.

While you’re waiting, Killers and Thieves is available from Steam now. No early access and no beta period; just a complete game ready to play right now.

A huge thank you goes out to all of you for your continued support of the Banner Saga and of Stoic. We hope you enjoy Alex’s new game!

- Your friends at Stoic.