SHADE Protocol Kickstarter campaign launches in spring 2026
Latest look at the 2D cyber-fantasy Metroidvania game.
Little Legendary will launch a Kickstarter campaign for side-scrolling cyber-fantasy Metroidvania game SHADE Protocol in spring 2026, the developer announced.
The crowdfunding campaign will focus on raising funds for console ports, speeding up development time, additional content, hiring guest composers from known titles, and more.
“Since revealing SHADE Protocol a few months ago, the game has become one of the most wishlisted games in the world, showing us that we have something special in our hands and that we need to aim higher to deliver on the power fantasy that players expect,” said game director Kendall Quinones in a press release. “While we aim to make SHADE Protocol a reality no matter what, your support would go a long way to keeping our creative autonomy and craft the best game we can.”
Here is an overview of the game, via Little Legendary:
About
Discover a world where music, code, and combat collide. Swap between DAWN and SHADE forms to unleash devastating abilities, wield Instruments as weapons, and rewrite reality itself in a world on the brink of annihilation by the SHADE Protocol. The game introduces an interesting mechanic: the Protocols, thanks to them you will be able to encode your own playstyle, combining protocols and specialized code fragments, to alter your attacks, defenses, and abilities, but also recode enemies at your will, changing how they behave to allow you overcome the most dangerous threats.
Seamlessly switch between DAWN and SHADE modes, altering combat styles and gameplay dynamics. Wield Instruments, powerful code-based weaponry inspired by music, each serving a unique role in battle and exploration. Engage in high-speed, skill-based combat, parrying and countering enemies in a world that demands mastery. Explore vast, interconnected Bastions, where every discovery alters the fate of the war between SHADEs and Xaviors, and the all-consuming SHADE Protocol.
Key Features
- Dynamic Combat System – Mix precision melee combat with specialized Instruments, executing devastating combos, parries, and counters. Swap between DAWN and SHADE modes to adapt to different playstyles in real-time.
- UNISON System – Rewrite Reality – The world of SHADE Protocol exists as code. Wield it to manipulate events, relive key moments, and choose their ultimate outcome, shaping the fate of entire factions.
- Unique Defensive Mechanics – Perfectly timed parries and counters restore Echo, a vital energy source for powerful Instrument attacks and defensive maneuvers.
- Instruments – Weapons That Sing – Wield an arsenal of musical weapons, including the Twilight Spear, Sunrise Great Axe, and Midnight Chakram, each with distinct combat and exploration abilities.
The war is lost. The song is rewritten. Will you take the stage?
SHADE Protocol will be available for PC via Steam. A release date has yet to be announced.
Watch a new trailer below.