Engaging in constructive entertainment means having an unshakeable faith in the limitless nature of art, while striving to break free from the constraints of the world. With this in mind, 11 bit studios is proud to announce its partnership with Odd Meter for the release of their first game on PC and consoles. INDIKA is an original narrative adventure set in a parallel 19th-century Russia, perfectly in line with 11 bit studios’ vision of purposeful entertainment
In INDIKA, players embody the eponymous nun, Indika, on a fascinating journey exploring the duality between good and evil, and the very idea that nothing is absolute. In essence, INDIKA is a third-person adventure game, blending exploration with contextual puzzles and a hint of platforming. However, imbued with themes of sin, grief and moral dilemmas, INDIKA transcends traditional gaming, resembling an art-house film that challenges societal norms beyond mere entertainment
Discover the studio’s statement and the first images of INDIKA below
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The professional relationship between Odd Meter and 11 bit studios was already well established when Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine took place. These horrific events placed both developer and publisher in a difficult situation, with the path ahead now far more complex
“Even before our country went to war, we were working on subjects that could be subject to criminal prosecution in Russia. After February 24, 2022, things got even more complicated, as staying in Russia became both physically scary and, above all, morally difficult, so we decided to leave for another country,” says Dmitry Svetlow, Game Director and Founder at Odd Meter.” Nowadays, the relevance of the themes addressed in our games has become particularly obvious. Many of the problems of today’s Russia lie in the socio-political infantilism that has been instilled in its citizens over the centuries: humility, obedience and patience are the main virtues imposed by our Orthodox culture. So it’s not surprising that institutions such as the Russian Orthodox Church have recently become one of the main weapons of propaganda, calling on parishioners to die for their homeland and preaching an inordinate indifference to one’s own and others’ lives.”
Once the decision was made, the entire 16-strong Odd Meter team left the country and moved to Kazakhstan
“Such a dehumanizing war shows that our desire to see the world as a free and civilized place is still fragile, and sadly, many people’s lives are still precariously dependent on the whims of armies. At 11 bit, we knew we couldn’t stop our cooperation with Odd Meter just because of the studio’s origins,” says Rufus Kubica, Product Management Lead at 11 bit studios. “When the team decided to move from Russia to Kazakhstan, we gave them all the time they needed to get their private and professional lives back in order. Development deadlines could be postponed and we had to redouble our efforts on the paperwork front. But above all, we didn’t interfere with the game’s content, theme or story, which bravely tackles subjects almost totally absent from today’s games. With its artistic value at stake, any form of censorship would imply our lack of trust, and we wholeheartedly believe in Odd Meter’s efforts to create a dazzling, unique and meaningful experience. We can’t wait for our community to play INDIKA and be impressed with us.”
INDIKA will be available in 2024 on PC and consoles
As actions are more valuable than words, part of INDIKA’s revenues will be donated to help children affected by the war in Ukraine
