[Weekend Game] That's No Moon Adds Narrative and Tactical Depth to New Title 'Crossfire'

Debut Title 'Crossfire' Unveiled to the Public for the First Time

AAA Single-Player Experience Enhanced by Storytelling

Cover System Innovation... "Requires Strategic Thinking"

"Empathy Through Narrative Anticipated... Synergy With Sm

"'Crossfire' enhances immersion through realistic combat play focused on characters and narrative. It is a premium AAA (blockbuster-level) title with a brand-new story, separate from the original Smilegate intellectual property (IP) of the same name."

On June 5 (local time), U.S. game developer That's No Moon unveiled its debut title 'Crossfire' to the public for the first time at the online game event 'Summer Game Fest.' That's No Moon, founded in 2021, is a company that received a strategic investment of 100 million dollars (approximately 120 billion won at the time) from Smilegate.

That's No Moon 'Crossfire' game screen. That's No Moon

"Strength in Character and Narrative...Further Innovation with Adaptive Cover System"

Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) Taylor Kurosaki and Game Director Jacob Minkoff introduced 'Crossfire' during a prior digital briefing, stating, "As a new studio, we focused on 'innovation.' We aimed to deliver a high degree of freedom in the story and single-player experience, making the journey feel truly rewarding."

'Crossfire' is a third-person strategic action-adventure game where two protagonists with different values, Leyla and Cross, form an alliance for survival. Built with Unreal Engine 5, it combines real-world threats and science fiction elements, enabling storytelling that reveals the true nature of the characters. The stealth-based combat, set in an atmosphere of extreme tension, demands strategic thinking and careful movement.

That's No Moon emphasized that they have added an innovative element to combat: the 'adaptive cover' system. Director Minkoff explained, "We wanted to introduce innovation that could redefine the genre through a new cover system. While existing games typically apply binary low or high cover to rectangular, staircase-like structures, 'Crossfire' allows players to adjust their stance in real-time to match the surrounding terrain and enemy line of sight."

He added, "The motion matching system incorporates millions of animation connections, so players will feel that their gameplay fundamentally changes depending on the environment." To enhance realism, the team drew inspiration from films such as 'Triple Frontier,' crawled on the ground in a park near their homes while wearing camouflage, and visited airsoft arenas in Eastern Europe for hands-on experience.

The new cover system is expected to double the fun when combined with tactical gameplay. CCO Kurosaki stated, "In reality, even with helmets, body armor, rifles, and ammunition, small groups can lose. That's why guerrilla tactics exist. The key is to use the environment to your advantage. Unlike existing cover systems, our analog approach requires players to find their own movement paths to break enemy line of sight and to develop strategies such as withdrawing and hiding after attacking." He added, "By increasing spatial immersion, players need to think as if they have become the character themselves. Strategic thinking is more important than reflexes or strength."

Taylor Kurosaki, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of That's No Moon (left), and Jacob Minkoff, game director. That's No Moon

"Expecting a Static Narrative Experience...Special Collaboration with Smilegate"

The development team hopes users will not only experience intense combat but also engage in 'static' narrative moments that allow for a deeper understanding of the relationship and perspectives of the two protagonists. CCO Kurosaki said, "The characters are neither entirely good nor evil. Everyone has flaws, so you may see yourself reflected in them. The process of the two protagonists gradually accepting each other's viewpoints under extreme pressure will resonate with players."

Additionally, the development team emphasized that the collaboration with Smilegate was very special, noting that both sides shared the value of delivering fun gameplay and meaningful stories to users. CCO Kurosaki said, "Smilegate supported us in creating the best possible game without unnecessary interference. We have created a powerful synergy. By reinterpreting the 'Crossfire' IP—which has been enjoyed by over one billion users—with a narrative focus and new innovations, both new and existing players will develop curiosity and affection for the title."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.