Microids faced significant challenges towards the end of 2023, encountering several setbacks and less-than-stellar game releases. The French publisher is on a path to recovery, determined to uphold the improved game quality philosophy it adopted in 2020. Among its noteworthy projects is ‘Les Fourmis’, a game announced two years prior in collaboration with renowned author Bernard Werber—a fresh venture into video gaming since a title based on his work was released over two decades ago. The gaming landscape has evolved since then, with development techniques improving drastically and nearing photorealistic outcomes. It’s under these advanced conditions that the game, ‘Les Fourmis’, developed by France’s Tower Five for Microids, is being crafted. Having experienced a preview of this game in 2022 at Microids’ studio, its development has evidently leaped forward. Recently showcased at GDC 2024 in San Francisco, it allowed a select group of media and France’s Julien Chièze exclusive playthroughs, revealing significant upgrades and novelties during the public conference with insights from Renaud Charpentier, Tower Five’s founder and game director, on the awe-inspiring visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5.
The visual achievements of ‘Les Fourmis’ for the gaming year 2024 have garnered universal acclaim, particularly for its photorealistic graphics that redefine our expectations from video games. Tower Five, nestled in La Rochelle, France, has ambitiously crafted this unique universe, distinct from anything seen in contemporary gaming, aside from ‘Grounded’, which revolved around human-sized insects rather than ants. A continual emphasis on photorealism from journalists and Renaud Charpentier echoes the team’s aim for a realistic portrayal akin to BBC documentaries, although sadly, without David Attenborough’s narration—despite efforts to involve him.
AIMING FOR PHOTOREALISM
To achieve a photorealistic appearance, developers employed photogrammetry, presenting immense challenges and advancements in both polygon count and ultra-detailed textures, necessitating comprehensive lighting management. This tasked the French studio with blending adventure, strategy, and online multiplayer elements into their game—a formidable challenge mitigated by opting for Unreal Engine 5. Early access to Epic Games’ engine beta in 2021 allowed for incorporation of these complex elements, bringing the game to life.
However, the detailed recreation of an ant’s world in 8K resolution faced limitations due to console memory capacities, prompting Tower Five to recall Unreal Engine’s virtual texturing since version 4. This technique allows for selecting between lower and higher resolution textures on-demand. Renaud Charpentier shared insights into technical hurdles and the solutions formulated, likening the process to Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of technology for ‘Barry Lyndon’, emphasizing video game development as a constant learning and adaptation process.
Consequently, the game impresses with its stunning visuals, having wowed journalists and teasing innovative gameplay to match its aesthetic brilliance. Tower Five and Microids’ collaboration established clear, appealing gameplay objectives from the outset, despite the inherent challenges of blending RTS elements with a narrative-driven adventure, echoing the complexity and anticipation surrounding a game derived from Bernard Werber’s internationally acclaimed novels.
BRIDGING RTS WITH MAINSTREAM APPEAL
Pioneering gameplay involves managing a uniquely assigned ant, number 103 683, through strategic battles and explorations, hinting at interactions steeped in humor and humanity—aligning with Werber’s literary essence. The blend of action, strategic conflicts among varied insect species, and the potential for hundreds of units in play promise an engaging experience, further enriched by the freedom to explore and interact within the ant colony.
‘Les Fourmis’ intricately marries adventure and strategy, catering to console gamers with a tailored, controller-friendly gameplay experience. Emphasizing accessible command execution, the game introduces diverse ant roles—warriors, gunners, and workers—with distinct functions and an innovative UI for managing the colony’s economy, defense, and pheromone-based abilities. This strategic depth, along with Pikmin 4-like command mechanics, promises a rich and immersive gameplay experience.
Despite the game’s compelling graphical fidelity and gameplay innovation, a noted shortcoming is the environment’s static nature, lacking active natural elements. However, the game’s mastery in lighting stands out as a significant strength, fostering anticipation for its release and hands-on evaluations.
