We were lucky enough to interview the team at Saroasis Studios, currently working on Fate Trigger. Fate Trigger is an upcoming anime battle royale video game.
The Outerhaven: There are a lot of battle royale games out there, what do you hope to bring to the genre with Fate Trigger?
Saroasis Studios: The most distinctive aspect of Fate Trigger is its Asian anime-inspired art style and character designs, which set it apart from existing games in the genre. Fate Trigger’s mechanics are designed to be enjoyable for entry-level players while also offering the high-skill challenge that competitive players crave. Our goal was to create a shooter that is unique and refreshing for everyone. In fact, we offer a shorter than average TTK (Time-to-Kill), but also introduced Rapid Trials and 8v8 Team Deathmatch modes to give gamers the chance to level up their skills before they jump into Ranked Matches. Beyond aesthetics, our gameplay also introduces some unique elements by adding skills unique to each character type like the ability to heal, along with weapon enhancements that can be added on, and a large map composed of floating islands. From the get-go it offers a truly fresh and different experience for players.
The Outerhaven: When it comes to the art and designs of your characters, what is the inspiration behind these decisions?
Saroasis Studios: Our inspiration comes from classic anime, comics, and games. Each character’s design is a collaborative effort involving gameplay design, narrative design, and concept art. Our team members span different ages and backgrounds, leading to a fusion of diverse ideas. We draw from a wide range of influences rather than limiting ourselves to a single source.
The Outerhaven: If you could have a collaboration with any property or Franchise in the game, which one would it be and why?
Saroasis Studios: Most of our studio members are enthusiasts of anime, comics and gaming. We’re not just gamers, we’re also passionate about anime, sci-fi, and film, so the thought or possibility of collaborating with franchises are definitely not out of the question. In fact, as a part of our strategy to expand the Fate Trigger universe beyond gaming, and knowing how many great games, anime, and films are out there, part of the initiatives that we’ve been working on is to reach out to explore potential partnerships. As a sneak peek, we’ve already had early discussions with some franchises. Though we can’t reveal any further information, stay tuned for an official announcement.
The Outerhaven: So the next game Saroasis Studios is working on is an open-world type game? What can you tell us about that?
Saroasis Studios: That is correct. A team separate from the one working on Fate Trigger is developing another open-world game titled Rewinding Cadence.
The Outerhaven: What is one major lesson you have learned from making Fate Trigger that you think is the most important in game development?
Saroasis Studios: The implementation of every idea is a valuable experience. If we had to name the most important element, we believe it would be the fusion of competitive shooter gameplay and Asian anime aesthetics. Throughout this process, we conducted extensive experiments and sometimes encountered conflicts between the demands of shooter mechanics and artistic expression.
For example, when designing our character actions, we had a strict requirement for operating in-game weapons realistically and accurately. We strongly felt that every movement pertaining to handling guns had to be scientifically sound and correct. At the same time, as each character had their own unique styles and even special moves, we also felt that it’d be necessary to also pursue unique, personalized expressions for each character. Therefore, ensuring that each character’s running motion while holding a gun was both precise and reflective of their individual style was a significant challenge for our animation design team. We experimented with many different versions and ultimately chose the one that is currently in the game. It was well-received by many players during testing, and this, in the end, is our greatest takeaway.
The Outerhaven: If you could go back in time as development was first starting on Fate Trigger what is one thing you would change or do differently?
Saroasis Studios: Reflecting on it, we’ve been fortunate. From the very beginning of development to the current testing phase, our major strategic direction has remained almost unchanged, avoiding major detours. Our prior experience in creating FPS games has helped us sidestep common pitfalls. The biggest challenge and exploration for us was the fusion of realistic shooting mechanics with the unique character design and fantastical anime art style that we discussed earlier.
On the other hand, we have also been fortunate to have a large and supportive player base since the early tests. Their positive feedback has reinforced our belief that we are moving in the right direction.
The Outerhaven: Thank you for answering my questions but my final question is one I love to ask everyone who gives me a chance to interview them but: What is your favorite video game of all time?
Saroasis Studios: We’ve played DOTA and PUBG the most, but our team’s favorite is GTA.
Fate Trigger will be available eventually across platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and mobile platforms. It will be in Early Access in the first quarter of 2026 for Steam and the Epic Games Store.
