The historical adventure action game "Zemsky Sobor" has been released on VK Play

The game "Zemsky Sobor" from the Russian game studio Cyberia Nova was released on VK Play on November 4th. The release was specifically timed to coincide with Russia's Day of National Unity, and to mark this occasion, the developers held a closed presentation of the project for the media and experts in the gaming industry.

"The presentation of the game 'Zemsky Sobor' on the Day of National Unity is a symbolic reminder that the strength of Russia has always been in the unity of its people. This game is not just a historical tale — it reflects the eternal value of national concord, where the fate of the country depends on the wisdom and unity of its people," emphasized studio's creative director Sergey Russkikh at the event.

"Zemsky Sobor" is a new game in the action-adventure genre created by the developers of "Smuta", who have learned lessons from the project and tried to avoid past mistakes, while also paying more attention to the captivating gameplay.

Players are presented with a story about the events that unfolded after the Time of Troubles, narrated from the perspective of the Cossack Kirsha, ally of Yuri Miloslavsky (the hero of "Smuta"). The game immerses players in the behind-the-scenes intrigues of the Zemsky Sobor of 1613. At that time, delegates gathered from all cities of the Russian state to elect a new tsar. Kirsha finds himself caught up in the whirlpool of events surrounding the struggle for the throne. To prevent foreigners and traitors from ascending to the throne, the hero will need not only sharp wit and ingenuity but also a keen saber.

The developers sought to find a balance between historical accuracy and engaging gameplay by using the technique of the "unreliable narrator" to portray the events of the Time of Troubles through the eyes of the Cossack Kirsha. This approach makes the story lively, unpredictable, and deeply atmospheric. In the game, players can expect quests, ambushes, new characters, and cameos from historical figures — including False Dmitry III, the Zemsky yarizhka with "investigating letters," and the jester Solovey. The game will last approximately 6-7 hours.

In "Zemsky Sobor," the core mechanics are reimagined, a new system for peaceful and combat movement of the protagonist and NPCs (non-player characters) is introduced, alongside new plot elements and interactive possibilities. The stealth system in the game is more flexible, giving players much more options, and enemies have improved AI. The gaming experience is expanded with QTE mechanics, mini-games, and other systems of interaction with the environment: players can push a stuck merchant's cart, blow the blacksmith’s bellows, and perform other actions.

The Cyberia Nova team has also reworked most of the interfaces and added new ones. The hero's leveling system has been simplified, an interactive mini-map has been added for easy navigation and clue finding. A faction screen has also been implemented to track the political struggle, along with well-thought-out tutorial prompts. All these changes have made the game more convenient and interesting, taking player feedback into account.

In "Zemsky Sobor," the sound system for combat and stealth has been improved, and the musical accompaniment has become interactive and situational, using folk (gusli, whistle) and modern instruments. One of the highlights is the introductory Cossack song "Sluzhba li, matyushka...", performed by the soloist of the Rostov Cossack ensemble. The character voiceovers were done by the "Buka" studio, featuring renowned voice actors from games like God of War, World of Warcraft, Dragon Age, and "Smuta". The voice of the main character Kirsha was provided by Vladimir Palanitsa.

Everyone who purchased "Smuta" before the release of "Zemsky Sobor" will receive the new game for free, and those who pre-ordered "Smuta" will be gifted a unique in-game item — the saber of Yuri Miloslavsky. The game is rated 12+. "Zemsky Sobor" will resonate with those who enjoy dynamic adventures with immersion in historical context. The game's price will be 613 rubles.

Cyberia Nova is a Russian game studio founded in Novosibirsk in 2015. The studio is engaged in video game development based on Unreal Engine 5.x, producing, game design, sound production, as well as other aspects of game development. The team comprises over 60 qualified specialists.