Blaktasia: Invasion of The Murk, the highly anticipated mobile game from Naarm-based, Aboriginal-led studio GUCK, will take centre stage at Melbourne International Games Week's (MIGW) Big Games Night Out on Thursday, 10 October.
Set to transform Fed Square into a games-themed wonderland, the event will mark MIGW's 10th anniversary and showcase an immersive evening of music, games, and cultural performances.
The global premiere of Blaktasia is a key highlight, offering festivalgoers an interactive look at the game's First Nations-inspired fantasy world.
Lead game designer Phoebe Watson said the game is "set in a fantasy version of Australia" and centres on players healing a world corrupted by an invasive parasite called The Murk, a metaphor for colonisation.
"Your main goal is fighting back The Murk," Ms Watson said, adding players do this by planting native flora to restore the land.
The game will be free-to-play and designed to be accessible to a broad audience.
"It's aimed at First Nations people, but we wanted to make the game enjoyable for kids and up to elders as well," Ms Watson said.
Blaktasia draws heavily from the personal experiences of the developers and Indigenous people as a whole.
"A lot of the inspiration for the game comes from our experiences as Aboriginal people," Mr McDonald said.
"We've all got our own stories that we carry with us, and that comes through in everything we create."
GUCK's debut game also incorporates Indigenous values into its mechanics.
"We've intertwined Blak ways of thinking into the design," Ms Watson said.
This connection to culture has resonated with playtesters.
"One thing we've noticed is when the mob that play it, it seems to make sense to them," Mr McDonald said.
As part of the night's festivities, Fed Square's façade will be illuminated with large-scale projections from the Blaktasia universe, giving attendees an exclusive preview of the game's magical world and characters.
"The main headline is what we're doing there, and we'll be debuting the Blaktasia universe," Mr McDonald said.
Live performances from Robert K Champion & The Blaktasia Band, DJ Soju Gang, and a First Nations country-western line-dancing spectacle will enhance the immersive experience.
Ms Watson also reflected on the collaborative process that brought Blaktasia to life.
"We've supported each other through it all, and we've grown so much," she said.
For the team, the game represents more than just entertainment; it's a step towards greater representation in the gaming industry.
"It's about creating something like this to inspire more," McDonald added.
Big Games Night Out will be a free, inclusive event, offering a mix of games, music, fashion, and technology as part of Melbourne International Games Week.
