Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, USA | February 5, 2025 - Astral Clocktower Studios today announces its collaboration with popular YouTuber and gaming creator, Julien Solomita, who will make his voice-acting debut in Kristala as rodent adventurer, Gustav Gondasa, in the game’s next big content update. As the first friendly rodent character to be introduced in Kristala, Gustav is set to play a pivotal role in the game’s core narrative, introducing a brand new food mechanic to the game that includes craftable recipes and on-the-go consumable snack items.
In Kristala, players must explore a fantasy world filled with rich lore, mutated enemies, and unexpected allies. Gustav Gondasa is the first of the Hemani—a faction of the larger rodent group of Kotakaya who serve as allies to the feline Anagativa—to make an appearance in game. Should players choose to aid Gustav in his quest, he will in turn guide them through a series of trials, adding a source of meaningful companionship to an otherwise dark and perilous world. With Solomita’s distinctive voice added into the mix, Gustav will bring a unique dynamic to Kristala.
“We’re beyond excited to have Julien join Kristala as the voice of Gustav Gondasa,” says Alexis Brutman, Founder of Astral Clocktower Studios and Producer for Kristala. “Gustav is more than just another NPC you meet along the way—he’s a pivotal character who will evolve alongside players and impact key moments throughout the game. Julien’s warm energy perfectly matches Gustav’s adventurous personality, and we hope he’ll resonate with players in a meaningful way.”
Solomita, known amongst his community for a love of rats and other rodents, expressed his excitement for the project, saying, “It just feels right that my first voice acting experience is me playing a rodent.”
Both Solomita and the developers at ACS have worked to ensure this unique collaboration has a positive impact on real-world causes that align with one primary goal: to give back to animals in need. During special promotional periods, a percentage of profits generated from sales of Kristala and its related merchandise will be donated directly to the Pasadena Humane Society in an effort to aid their work in helping animals displaced by the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
“We wanted to ensure this collaboration went beyond just the game itself,” says Brutman. “By partnering with creators like Julien, an LA native, and giving back to organizations like Pasadena Humane, we’re not only celebrating the spirit of Kristala, but also helping real-world animals in need. It’s something we’re incredibly passionate about and proud to contribute to.”
As Kristala’s story unfolds, players will find that Gustav’s role grows increasingly more important, offering critical support during the player’s journey and uncovering new secrets about the dark curse that’s ravaging the magical world of Ailur.
Players can look forward to experiencing Solomita’s dynamic performance as Gustav in Kristala’s next major content update, slated for launch later this month. Kristala is currently available in Early Access on Steam, with additional release plans for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch following a full PC release early next year. Follow Astral Clocktower Studios for more updates on Julien Solomita’s involvement in the game and sneak peeks into the development process for this exciting new collaboration.
A downloadable demo version of the game is currently available on Steam.
New Features in Kristala’s February Update
- Addition of NPC Gustav Gondasa–voiced by creator Julien Solomita–and related, ongoing questline
- New mechanic tied to Food, including craftable Recipes and consumable Snack items
- Initial implementation of a fully redesigned Menu/UI system
- Tools & Tool-crafting Menu featuring Throwing Knives as the first Tool
- Dodge attacks and Quicker Takedowns
- Filling in of existing animations gaps, including more realistic Parkour movements and NPC interactions and refined enemy spawn movements
- Chapter I localized in four key languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish (LATAM), French, and German
Schrödinger’s Box
- A story-rich Dark Fantasy ARPG featuring classic RPG elements and a Souls-like vibe, allowing players to unlock and level up catlike abilities on the Feline Skill Tree
- Embark on an epic journey and master the magic of the ancient sacred Kristals as a fledgling, catlike warrior. Featuring challenging combat, acrobatic parkour, and exploration to uncover a detailed story
- Uncover the source of a dark curse that has mutated Ailur’s creatures into bloodthirsty monsters and master the magic of the Kristals in hopes of becoming a Raksaka Warrior - a powerful protector of your species
The announcement trailer for Kristala’s next major content update is available to watch on YouTube, and the game can be wishlisted on Steam ahead of its full launch in early 2026. For the latest Kristala news and updates, follow the team on X, TikTok, and YouTube.
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About Astral Clocktower Studios
Astral Clocktower Studios is a women-owned independent game development studio founded in 2018 and based in the Northeast USA. The Astral Clocktower culture and key pillars are centered around celebrating diversity, equality, and inclusion, encouraging an “open door” atmosphere, free from judgment, that celebrates the vast and diverse cultures its team members bring to the Astral Clocktower family. This close-knit team has been hard at work on Kristala, a 3D Dark Fantasy ARPG currently in Early Access on Steam, with release plans for PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch following a successful Kickstarter funded in under two hours.
🐱Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1206410/Kristala/
🐭Gustav Announcement Trailer: https://youtu.be/vP8FSP07VZ0
😼Website: https://www.astralclocktowerstudios.com/