LOS ANGELES, OCTOBER 17, 2024 - Developer Messhof (Nidhogg) and publisher Annapurna Interactive announced today as part of the Xbox Partner Preview showcase that their scenic cycling adventure Wheel World, formerly known as Ghost Bike, will be reaching the finish line in Early 2025 on Xbox Series X & S as part of Game Pass, PlayStation 5 and PC.
To celebrate the name change and news, Messhof premiered a bright and breezy trailer for the game featuring a new original song, “I Want It All”, by artist Joon of the electronic music label Italians Do It Better, during today’s showcase.
“This game represents several firsts for our studio,” says Mark Essen and Kristy Norindr of Messhof, in a Steam news update on the game’s re-reveal. “It’s of course our first 3D game, which also makes it our first game made with Unity. It’s our first game using a physics library, our first game made with a big team and hence our first game funded by a publisher, and our first game with a real narrative (with characters and dialogue boxes even!).”
“The gameplay in Wheel World has gone through a number of iterations in terms of gameplay and structure, and the narrative has had to adapt along the way. At the point last year when it felt right to announce the project, we came up with the name Ghost Bike based on where the narrative was. It was a game about dying on a bike after being hit by a car and ending up in a cycling Valhalla. While it wasn’t directly based on real-world ghost bikes (those white bikes memorializing cyclists killed by drivers), there was enough overlap to feel like the name was justified and the associations would be a positive one from both directions. But as things changed in the gameplay (to make it more fun to play), and thus the story (especially in tone) it fit less and less.”
About Wheel World
Welcome to Wheel World, where the fate of the universe rests on your handlebars.
You are Kat, a young cyclist with one mission: save Wheel World from total collapse. Explore a stunning open world filled with impressive vistas, hidden secrets, and races that will test your skills. Customize your bike with an endless array of parts, from sleek speedsters to off-road beasts—there's no limit to how you can ride.
Wheel World is packed with things to do:
Race and Dominate: Take on elite cycling teams and quirky rivals in high-stakes races where every second counts.
Upgrade Your Ride: Scour the world for rare parts to build the ultimate bike, perfectly tailored to your style.
Carry Out Your Destiny: Recover your stolen Legendary parts to ultimately perform The Great Shift ritual and save the world. No big deal.
All of this is backed by an original soundtrack from Italians Do It Better, pumping energy into every race and moments of breathtaking semi-open world exploration.
It's time to pedal your way to glory, save the spirits of Wheel World, and keep the universe on track. Hop on, ride fast, and don't look back.
For special interview requests, get in touch with pr@popagenda.co
Find the game out now on Steam
Find the game on Xbox
Find the game on PlayStation
About Messhof
Messhof is a video game development studio founded in 2013 by Mark Essen and Kristy Norindr and located in Venice, California. They are behind the award winning Nidhogg (2014), Flywrench (2015) and Nidhogg II (2017) and are currently working on the open world cycling adventure Wheel World.
Learn more about Messhof at https://messhof.com/
About Annapurna Interactive
Annapurna Interactive, founded in 2016, works with game creators from around the world to develop and release personal experiences for everyone. Their award-winning portfolio includes Stray, Neon White, Outer Wilds, COCOON, Storyteller, What Remains of Edith Finch, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Thirsty Suitors, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Solar Ash, Flock and A Memoir Blue, as well as upcoming titles Forever Ago, Skin Deep, Bounty Star, Silent Hill: Townfall, Wanderstop, Mixtape, MORSELS and more.
Learn more about Annapurna at https://www.annapurna.com/interactive
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