Embark on the journey of a lifetime in Deliver Us Mars, out today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One

In 2019 Deliver us the moondeveloper KeokeN Interactive has sent players to the moon to reactivate a vital energy source and save the earth from the abyss of catastrophe. In its sequel Deliver us MarsComing today to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, the goal is to give our planet a chance at a bright future – and the only way to do that is for a small crew to join an all-or -Nothing mission travels to Mars.

Developed by a core team of around 20 people, Deliver us Mars brings their grand vision to an even bigger screen. Where Deliver us the moon had a silent protagonist who witnessed events from the past, Deliver us Mars has a voiced main character who plays a key role in the story, as well as a full cast of supporting characters. New game mechanics such as an excitingly realistic climbing system, zero-g first-person stages and challenging puzzles add even more variety to this adventure this time.

In the near future, as a result of climate change, the earth will be hit by terrible floods and ferocious storms. Only the ARKs—huge ships with the power to restore plant life and the planet’s atmosphere—can give humanity a chance to protect the world for future generations. However, these ARKs are currently in the possession of the shadowy group Outward, who fled to Mars with the ships, intentionally leaving the rest of humanity behind to start afresh. Discovering the fate of the Outward colonists and the whereabouts of the ARKs fuels your journey across Mars in this sci-fi adventure.

But this larger save-the-world story is just one layer of the powerful and emotional narrative of Deliver Us Mars. The game focuses on the relationship between a father and a daughter. You take on the role of young astronaut Kathy Johanson, whose father Isaac left her years earlier to join the Outward group when they fled to Mars. In the present, a mysterious message suggests Isaac may still be alive – and Kathy is determined to join the World Space Agency’s mission to the Red Planet and find out the truth, even though her father is a wanted fugitive on Earth.

“It was important that the impact of this relationship was just simmering beneath the surface at all times,” says Ellise Chappell (“Poldark,” “Young Wallander”), who plays Kathy and lends her likeness to the character. “Kathy has lived with unanswered questions for years, which I think influence her way of wearing. This broken relationship affects her interests, drives, and even her sense of humor, which I think she uses to hide a deep sadness and insecurity. Also, Kathy feels pretty unpredictable as a character – what are her allegiances?”

This strain of Kathy’s true motivations will keep players guessing throughout the game: Did she really travel to Mars to find the ARKs and save humanity, or does she selfishly want to find her father, a goal that her crewmates do not is shared? Or does she want both at the same time and possibly jeopardize the mission?

“Apart from being a great space opera mixed with psychological family drama, which in itself is an unusual combination – one that works brilliantly – Deliver us Mars is a game of suspense, wonder and mystery exploring the Red Planet,” says actor and performance director Neil Newbon (Resident Evil Village, Baldur’s Gate 3), who plays Kathy’s father Isaac and helped bring the motion-captured cutscenes to life in collaboration with KeokeN Interactive. “It has violent undertones without being overtly violent. I think it makes it a thoughtful and well-observed piece, while still being exciting and compelling as a storytelling piece. The danger and threat of violence is pervasive but not glorified — and this underlying current adds to the tense experience of Kathy’s journey.”

Newbon was such a big fan of Deliver us the moon that he contacted KeokeN Interactive after completing the game. “I emailed them shortly after the release about 4 years ago to ask for a collaboration,” he says. Now he’s one of the stars of the sequel, bringing a lot of inner conflict to the role of Isaac Johanson, who players will learn about in holographic journals once they arrive on Mars. Isaac’s regret at leaving Kathy years ago is a key element of the entire narrative. “I chronicled his life and the events that brought him to this horrible decision. It wasn’t an easy moment, but as an actor, I loved working on those scenes.”

Deliver us Mars is a game that challenges players to make up their own minds about history and what is worth sacrificing for the greater good. While the Outward group initially appears like the play’s villains, Kathy’s journey through her colonies on Mars reveals a faction that has been fraught with power struggles and conflict over what they have been doing. Players will experience this parallel history as they recover the ARKs, retracing the steps of Outward as they endured the harsh realities of attempting to colonize Mars (which was far from easy, even with the power of the ARKs) .

“I think Kathy, like most of the characters in Deliver us Mars, does not fall into either “good” or “bad” archetypes,” says Chappell. “No one is a hero or a villain in this game; Each character is a complex representation of what it means to be human, flaws and all. Kathy is an antihero; although he is brave, determined and highly intelligent. She can also be deceptive, short-sighted, and ruthless. She’s a character who has to make difficult decisions that challenge what’s ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ for the player.”

Players will form a strong bond with Kathy as she endures immense odds to complete her mission. KeokeN Interactive’s goal is to create a protagonist that feels like a real person and reflects their informed approach to sci-fi storytelling, consistent with the style of the first game.

Today they can embark on this journey to Mars themselves and experience beautiful environments, a wide variety of game types and a finale that will stay with them for years to come.

Newbon explains how he hopes players will feel Deliver us Mars once they finish the game. “Transported. They are moved and immediately want to call their loved ones and tell them they love them.”