Indie studio Little Legendary has unveiled its debut title, SHADE Protocol, a “2D Cyber-Fantasy Metroidvania that will be coming to PC in 2026″.
The team (Little Legendary) that’s making SHADE Protocol has been involved in previous games before including BioGun, Ember Knights, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, and more.
Here’s some of the key features for the game:
- Dynamic Combat System – Mix precision melee combat with specialized Instruments, executing devastating combos, parries, and counters. Swap between DAWN and SHADE modes to adapt to different playstyles in real-time.
- UNISON System – Rewrite Reality – The world of SHADE Protocol exists as code. Wield it to manipulate events, relive key moments, and choose their ultimate outcome, shaping the fate of entire factions.
- Unique Defensive Mechanics – Perfectly timed parries and counters restore Echo, a vital energy source for powerful Instrument attacks and defensive maneuvers.
- Instruments – Weapons That Sing – Wield an arsenal of musical weapons, including the Twilight Spear, Sunrise Great Axe, and Midnight Chakram, each with distinct combat and exploration abilities.
One of the key ideas in the game is the use of “Protocols”, which allow you to “encode your own playstyle, combining protocols and specialized code fragments, to alter your attacks, defences, and abilities”. It also lets you “recode enemies at your will, changing how they behave to allow you overcome the most dangerous threats.” It sounds pretty interesting, and unique take on the genre, that’s for sure.
Seamlessly switch between DAWN and SHADE modes, altering combat styles and gameplay dynamics. Wield Instruments, powerful code-based weaponry inspired by music, each serving a unique role in battle and exploration. Engage in high-speed, skill-based combat, parrying and countering enemies in a world that demands mastery. Explore vast, interconnected Bastions, where every discovery alters the fate of the war between SHADEs and Xaviors, and the all-consuming SHADE Protocol.
SHADE Protocol is coming to PC in 2026.