We call this new gameplay feature \u201cStory\u2011Link.\u201d Basically, you follow the Story-Link of someone who played before you (a friend, a streamer, or a stranger \u2013 maybe one of us devs here at DigixArt). Their decisions have left marks on the game-world and you\u2019ll have to deal with the consequences of their choices. Then, as you play, your own decisions will shape the story for future players.<\/p>\n
The core theme of the game is: \u201cWhat will you leave behind?\u201d We want players to reflect on how their actions affect those who come after them, which ties into the broader question of \u201cWhat world do we leave behind for future generations?\u201d<\/p>\n
While many players are curious and excited about this concept, we\u2019ve also heard some people say, \u201cThat\u2019s nice and all, but do my choices still matter to my story?\u201d \u2013\u00a0 and boy, yes, they do.<\/p>\n
![\"Tides](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ToT_MaraudersStronghold-b9402e4f03bfa3c86a73.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A collaborative journey<\/p>\n
Balancing how much previous players\u2019 choices should impact your experience versus how much control you have over your own story was one of the toughest challenges during development. We didn\u2019t want players to feel robbed of their own adventure.<\/p>\n
We struck that balance inside Story-Link, ensuring previous players\u2019 actions have consequences on a level\u2011by\u2011level basis. Someone else explored each island before you. Through their actions, they changed the \u201cnarrative state\u201d of what\u2019s happening \u201cright now\u201d in that place. Maybe they made some friends, maybe they made some enemies, maybe they helped someone, maybe they caused trouble\u2026<\/p>\n
In the end, however; you still go through your own overarching story. The Story\u2011Link strongly shapes your journey, but you remain in control of your destination.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s fascinating about this feature is that, depending on the version of each level you experience, you can end up with very different perspectives on characters and events. A character might become one of your trusted allies, while that same character is perceived as a villain by other players. This is especially true for our more \u201cgrey\u201d characters, like Nyx or Efod.<\/p>\n
![\"Tides](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ToT_EfodAndNyx-e0ed5569ab8ff2ac331a.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Shaping your own fate<\/p>\n
Of course, the narrative involves many \u201cbig moral choices.\u201d We diabolically designed them so that each one comes with a real dilemma \u2013 there\u2019s never a single \u201cright\u201d answer. These decisions have a strong influence on the next part of your story, and some of them can also have major consequences for future players.<\/p>\n
![\"Tides](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ToT_BigChoice-e9467ff8ef9ffc66f28b.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
For example, deciding to steal a key artifact from the Mystic means it won\u2019t be there anymore for the next players \u2013 and they\u2019ll have to deal with the fallout of its disappearance.<\/p>\n
On top of that, many smaller decisions ripple through the experience and come back in the final acts of the game. Even things that don\u2019t feel \u201cnarrative,\u201d like resource management, matter. One of the main themes of the story is resource scarcity during a time of crisis. Choosing whether to share medicine with an NPC or keep it for yourself can have consequences later on.<\/p>\n
The game also features a trait system. These are personality traits like Survivalist, Cooperative, or Troublemaker, which evolve based on your actions and choices. This gives long\u2011term weight to nearly every decision \u2013 even the smallest ones. These traits unlock late\u2011game opportunities, steer you toward different endings, and help you better understand the personality of the players you\u2019re following.<\/p>\n
![\"Tides](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ToT_KassEyla-aa0c76dc0aee136ced54.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t want to spoil too much, but the final act of the game is where everything comes together. All the choices you\u2019ve made along the way take on extra importance \u2013 determining who\u2019s still alive, which communities stand with you, and ultimately the kind of solution you\u2019ll use to save the planet\u2026 or doom it forever. What will you be willing to sacrifice?<\/p>\n
Tides of Tomorrow<\/a> will be out on Xbox April 22. We hope to see you on the Tides!<\/p>\n
![\"Tides](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/apps.12766.14392706611245033.1b74e55b-8926-4bc4-b9f0-06b12679a2c8.3ad9cbca-ae1e-4d97-8ccb-50c1cf882e.jpeg\")