Darwin’s Paradox Announced at State of Play

Normally, I would cover a Sony State of Play in its entirety. However, last week was a bit hectic, and I wasn’t able to. One announcement from the show caught my eye though, especially related to other news that circled after it. Konami’s latest published game has not only gained attention at the State of Play but has also had a real-world impact.

Darwin’s Paradox, developed by ZDT Studio and published by Konami, is a new Action-Adventure platformer coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. You follow Darwin, an Octopus who finds himself on a journey through a world dominated by a sinister food company. Here is what the press release says about Darwin’s Paradox:

“KONAMI and ZDT Studio introduce Darwin, an octopus plucked out of his natural habitat and thrust into a chaotic world supplanted by UFOOD INC. where a devious plan for world domination is unraveling. Players will tap into their octopus instincts to sneak through hostile territories patrolled by the very human—and definitely not alien—UFOOD INC.

Using Darwin’s sucker-lined arms to maneuver past foes, players must use the mastery of the mollusk to deceive and distract with camouflage and carefully timed ink shots, utilizing the environment to gain the advantage. With these high-powered stealth skills, Darwin becomes the ultimate infiltrator of the animal kingdom… well, aside from snakes, of course.

Every stage of the game offers new paths to explore, each transforming while players complete puzzles and obstacle courses – from landfills rife with packs of rabid rats, to menacing mechanical underbellies of a food factory by the sea. Darwin’s Paradox! delivers high-quality visuals and a colorful cast of characters as players dive deeper into the game’s rich story.”

In addition to announcing Darwin’s Paradox, Konami also revealed a partnership with the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Konami symbolically adopted an octopus at the aquarium named Charles Darwin, providing a $25,000 donation to the aquarium in the process.

According to the press release: “The adoption of a real-life octopus – named Charlie Darwin is in honor of the game’s aquatic hero – Darwin. KONAMI’s $25,000 donation supports the adoption and provides funding to the aquarium’s ongoing wildlife conservation efforts and animal care.”

Konami’s president, Naoki Morita, commented on this partnership, stating: “We are excited to support this adoption in partnership with the Aquarium of the Pacific. This symbolic adoption helps raise awareness among our players across the globe about these highly intelligent creatures vital to healthy marine ecosystems across the Pacific Ocean.”

KONAMI’s donation will help the Aquarium provide its over 12,000 species of animals with high-quality food, animal enrichment, and veterinary care while supporting its ocean conservation initiatives including raising and rehabilitating endangered species for release into the wild. This is important due to so many species needing shelter due to climate change and habitat destruction.

Ryan Ashton, the Vice President of Development for the Aquarium, commented as well, stating: “We are grateful to Konami for supporting our work to help our ocean and its inhabitants. Through this partnership, we hope more people come to love and care about not only octopuses but the ocean, which all life on our planet depends on.”

I’m excited to see more about Darwin’s Paradox. We don’t have a release date yet, though I’m sure we will learn more as we get closer to the Summer Game Fest. Either way, I think collaborations and initiatives like this help the gaming industry become more than an entertainment outlet. We can do more for the world and our communities. This partnership is one example of that.