Tchia Is An Epic Games Store Exclusive On PC

Tchia, an upcoming open-world sandbox adventure game, is going to be an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC when it launches this month. Developed by Awaceb co-founder and game director, Phil Crifo, Tchia was inspired by the archipelago New Caledonia, the homeland of Crifo and Awaceb studio co-founder, Thierry Boura. The upcoming game immerses players in the various cultures and traditions of the islands, including the language, animal life, and geographic locations and landmarks.

The game’s story follows the adventure of Tchia, a young girl whose world is turned upside down by an invasion of strange fabric creatures called the Maano. The Maano, however, are only following the orders of the archipelago’s evil ruler, Meavora. When the Maano kidnaps Tchia’s father, Tchia sets out on a quest to meet Meavora face-to-face and rescue her father. The gameplay will entail Tchia overcoming various obstacles and enemies as well as exploring and gathering offerings that will allow her to locate her enemy.

The controversy surrounding Epic Games Store exclusives stems from the platform's contentious relationship with Steam, the leading digital distribution platform for PC games. The controversial decision to make Tchia an EGS exclusive on PC has sparked debate among the gaming community, with many expressing their disappointment over the limited release. This move resembles the 2019 release of Glumberland's Ooblets, another adventure game that was exclusively available on the Epic Games Store, rather than Steam on PC. The decision caused a wave of harassment directed towards the developers, with players claiming that it was unfair to the gaming community. With Tchia now following the same path, it is possible that backlash will ensue.

Despite the controversy surrounding EGS exclusives, Tchia has generated a significant amount of interest, thanks in part to its unique features and gameplay mechanics. One of Tchia’s unique features is the Soul-jumping mechanic, which will allow players to take control of any animal or object within the world of New Caledonia. This particular feature will allow for experiences both in traversing the game’s map and during gameplay combat with enemies. There will also be a wide range of activities and challenges for players to explore in Tchia, including diving board challenges, totem carving, and even boat races. Every activity rewards players with additional stamina points, which can be used to Soul-jump or climb for longer periods.

Despite the negative reaction to Epic Games Store exclusives, the platform continues to secure a growing number of exclusive titles, including Tchia. It remains to be seen whether the exclusive release of Tchia on the Epic Games Store on PC will ultimately impact the game's success, but one thing is certain: the debate over the merits of Epic Games Store exclusives will continue to rage on.

Tchia is scheduled to release on March 21 on PC, PS4, and PS5.