Hi there! I’m Matt Nava, Creative Director at Giant Squid. For the last few years we’ve been hard at work on our latest game, Sword of the Sea. During today’s State of Play, we revealed our August 19 2025 release date. I’m excited to finally share more with you about the world and gameplay of this atmospheric surfing adventure.
An exhilarating, high speed way to explore
Like our previous titles Abzu and The Pathless, this game focuses on unique and engaging movement. At its core, Sword of the Sea is all about surfing. You’ll be carving your way across mysterious moving waves of sand on the ancient and powerful hoversword. We built this game with speed and maneuverability in mind–you’ll be catching air off fallen statues, grinding across the chains of archaic machines, and performing tricks in halfpipe-like tombs as you join the Wraith on his quest to bring life back to his barren world. And of course there are plenty of intuitive yet satisfyingly expressive tricks you can do to show off your skills as you go.
In Sword of the Sea, movement itself is a joy. Drawing inspiration from classic skating and snowboarding games of the past and merging that with our signature environmental design and atmospheric narrative style has resulted in a mythic surfing adventure unlike anything else.
Unveil the sea
As the Wraith journeys across the desolate Necropolis, you’ll explore skatepark-like ruins full of ramps, wall rides, and secrets. Uncover the mysteries of this land and you will be able to revive the magical sealife that once inhabited the waves. Transform the sandy dunes into emerald oceans, and forgotten temples will come alive with fish and beautiful kelp forests, allowing you to reach new heights as you glide upwards through the leaves.
Schools of fish will flow with the restored waters, allowing you to swiftly sail alongside shoals or watch in wonder as they coalesce into giant swirling baitballs. You might also get a boost from a giant jellyfish and bounce upwards or find larger creatures like orca or dolphins that follow you on your travels or even allow you to hitch a ride!
A mysterious and visually stunning world
Giant Squid games are known for their unique and instantly recognizable art style that creates memorable, beautiful worlds for players to lose themselves in. Sword of the Sea is no different and we think it is shaping up to be our most gorgeous work yet. You’ll find yourself slowing down from those high top speeds just to take it all in.
While the undulating, shifting sands may be what you’ve seen most of so far, the Wraith’s story will take him to many areas beyond the desert. Prepare to surf across windswept snowfields, glacial mountains, and many more exciting and unexpected biomes on this adventure.
With the power of the PS5 and PS5 Pro, we can deliver the most stunning vistas and awe-inspiring locales without sacrificing the performance required for the high speed and dextrous gameplay at the heart of Sword of the Sea.
A spiritual journey
In Sword of the Sea, surfing across the landscape can actually evoke a state of meditative calm and flow. As a surfer and snowboarder myself, I have felt the rush of movement and seen the beauty of nature in a way that only these extreme sports can deliver. But there’s more to it than just that- surfing is a spiritual experience, one that I hope to capture with this game. On a certain level, the Wraith’s story is about chasing that sense of total connection to nature that only surfing can give you. When you finally get to play Sword of the Sea, take in the vibrant color, the living world, and the enchanting score by Austin Wintory–we hope the experience will give you the indescribable, spiritual combination of rush and tranquility that makes surfing so special.
Play on PlayStation Plus at launch
Sword of the Sea will be available on Playstation Plus right when we launch on August 19 for PS5 and we can’t wait for you to get your hands on it and start your surfing adventure. Thanks for reading–we’ll see you out on the waves this summer!
