InSteel Seed, a stealth-action sci-fi game developed by Storm in a Teacup and published by ESDigital Games, protagonist Zoe isn’t facing the game’s dystopian world alone. Instead, she’s joined by KOBY, a small but remarkably advanced robotic companion who is far more than just a helpful tool. In fact, KOBY is an integral part ofSteel Seed’s narrative, as he is not only tied to Zoe’s development but to the overarching story as well.
In an interview with Game Rant, Ilia Svanidze, brand manager for ESDigital Games, dished out some information about Zoe’s robotic companion inSteel Seed, KOBY. During the interview, Svanidze went into detail about the relationship Zoe and KOBY share, how it will grow throughout the game’s narrative, and the fact that KOBY isn’t just anAI companionbut a robot with a soul.
KOBY Is an Essential Part of Zoe’s Emotional Journey in Steel Seed
The world of gaming is home to some notably memorable robot companions, fromStar Wars Jedi’s BD-1toDestiny’s Ghost. Whether it’s their ability to blend logic with humor or their thought-provoking philosophical sentiments about artificial intelligence, identity, and free will, robot companions make up some of the best personalities in gaming. Now, the same can be expected ofSteel Seed’s KOBY, who is Zoe’s closest friend in the game. When asked for more details on KOBY and the relationship he shares with Zoe inSteel Seed, Svanidze replied,
He will not be like a robot companion without a soul, but he is more like an emotional anchor for Zoe. The companionship will evolve during the story, and you’ll see it in the end and in the middle. We have some plot twists with KOBY too, but I can’t spoil it.
As if KOBY wasn’t already set up to be one of the best parts ofSteel Seed, the fact that there are plot twists surrounding him makes his involvement all the more intriguing. However, plot twists or not, his role as an “emotional anchor” for Zoe means he is going to helpSteel Seed’s protagonist better understand who she is as she attempts to rediscover her identity. After Zoe wakes up in a machine-built facility with no memory of who she is or how she got there, she will need all the help she can get from herrobot companion KOBY, who will help her reconnect with herself. Svanidze continued,
In the first scene, you will see him as a small robot who came to Zoe and tried to wake her up from her sleep, and after that, Zoe will communicate with him. He speaks in beeps, but Zoe understands him. They have small chats during the story, and he will explain things about the world and about himself during these talks. And of course, some of the plot twists will involve who he really is and why he is working with Zoe. But I can’t tell you anymore.
Svanidze said he couldn’t spoil anything major about KOBY’s story inSteel Seed, and that’s completely understandable. However, based on what he did divulge, KOBY is more than meets the eye. Svandize’s comments onplot twiststhat will reveal “who [KOBY] really is and why he is working with Zoe” suggest that his story will go far beyond the confines of Zoe’s character arc. As such, it’s possible KOBY is a part of the machines' plan to control humanity’s survival, and he doesn’t even know it. If that’s the case, the companionship he shares with Zoe may be brought to its breaking point in the end.
Since Martin Koda, who worked on Bungie’sDestiny, is also one of the writers forSteel Seed, we asked Svanidze if there were any similarities between theGuardian-Ghost bond inDestinyand the relationship between Zoe and KOBY. In response, Svandize simply laughed and said, “No,” although his response seemed more playful than anything, as if to indicate that there are, in fact, similarities between the two. Nevertheless, as other sci-fi stories with similar relationships have shown, and based on what Svanidze kindly revealed during our time with him, the growing companionship between Zoe and KOBY inSteel Seedis primed to be an emotional roller coaster.
