Vindictus: Defying Fateis promising to shake up the franchise with a new storyline and an overhauled gameplay loop. With the final Alpha Test right around the corner,Vindictus: Defying Fatewill turn the world ofVindictuson its head.
Based on the world ofMabinogi,Vindictusis a free-to-play MMORPG that’s been on the market for nearly 15 years. The vast world of the Celtic-inspiredVindictuswill soon be explored in a whole new way, with theupcomingVindictus: Defying Fateset to retell parts of the MMO’s storyline, all while filling in other gaps. Game Rant sat down with game director Dongseok Oh, who spoke more on how the new game is taking shape, as well as the history of the existingVindictusgame.
Vindictus: Defying Fate Explained
Branching Off From Vindictus
Q.Vindictuswill soon celebrate its 15th anniversary. How does it feel to be introducing a new title to such a long-running franchise?
A:The approval process for the new project was not an easy one. While the development team’s strong determination played a major role, the countless requests from players around the world for a newVindictustitle gave us tremendous motivation. Seeing the support from longtime fans—such as the comments on our recently released trailer—reminded us just how deeplyVindictushas been loved over the past 15 years.
That’s why we’re truly thrilled to finally introduce a new title. We’re working hard to make it a game that brings both nostalgia and joy to long-time fans, while offering a fresh, exciting experience for those new to theVindictusuniverse.
Q: How willDefying Fate’s gameplay differ fromVindictus?
A:The originalVindictuswas fundamentally built around a multiplayer system, with elements like player competition, trading, and combat balance forparty-based battles. In contrast,Vindictus: Defying Fate(VDF) is fundamentally a single-player experience with optional multiplayer content. While certain side content outside the main story supports co-op, all of it remains fully enjoyable solo.
This design allows players to engage with the game in a way that suits their individual playstyle.VDFfocuses on delivering a rich single-player experience, with a stronger narrative focus than the original, aiming to provide a deeper sense of immersion and storytelling.
Q: What was behind the choice to have the main gameplay ofDefying Fatebe in single-player?
A:The first reason is to strengthenimmersion in the game’s narrative. When designing around multiplayer, there are many situations that can hinder effective storytelling. Because of this, we chose to focus primarily on a single-player structure, with multiplayer support included only in select side content.
The second reason is to ensure a more focused combat experience and maintain balance. In multiplayer settings, visibility can suffer when multiple characters are performing flashy actions at once. Similarly, when a single boss must respond to several players simultaneously, the quality and intended pacing of the battle can be diminished. Since every character offers a distinct playstyle, we believed that centering the game around multiplayer could dilute that individuality. Instead, we chose a single-player focus to highlight each character’s strengths.
Q: How do the events ofDefying Faterelate toVindictus? Is the latter canon to the former? WillDefying Fateretell events fromVindictus?
A:This isn’t a direct sequel to the original story—it’s a full reinterpretation, retelling the narrative from the very beginning. Newcomers can enjoy the entire plot without prior knowledge, while returning players will find joy in discovering the differences.
Notably, scenes that were once conveyed through a few lines of text are now brought to life through fully voiced cinematic cutscenes. Even those familiar with the original storyline will experience a completely new atmosphere and sense of immersion.
Q: Will there be any references toMabinogiwithinDefying Fate, given its shared universe?
A:We did not developVDFwith the intention of directly linking its world toMabinogiorVindictus.
VDFis a game with its own distinct lore and structure. How you interpret any similarities or references is entirely up to you as a player. What the development team wants to convey is a story that is uniquelyVDF’s.
Q: How has Defying Fate changed since the 2024 pre-Alpha test?
A:There have been a lot of detailed updates, so I’ll focus on the major ones. First, in terms of action, we’ve added a new “Precision Action” system that rewards well-timed dodges or guards with follow-up attacks. Finishing moves have also been introduced for boss battles. In addition, two new playable characters—Delia and Karok—have joined the roster, each bringing a distinct combat style.
Battle areas have undergone significant changes. Compared to the pre-alpha version, they’ve been completely restructured with new layouts, as well as added features like interactive traversal and environmental traps. In this Alpha Test, players can now progress through the entire main storyline and engage in more thantwice the number of boss encounterscompared to the pre-alpha build. We’ve also added support for 4-player co-op battles, all of which can be enjoyed solo as well.
Lastly, character customization options have been greatly expanded, allowing players to further tailor their appearance and enjoy the game with even more variety.
Q:Vindictus' world is inspired by Celtic mythology. Can you talk more about how important these inspirations have been toVindictus, and how the inclusion of different folkloric stories, characters, and monsters has evolved over time?Following from that, how have these same mythological inspirations influencedDefying Fate? Has the team’s approach been different at any point?
A:Ourreinterpretation of Celtic mythologyremains in spirit with the original, but the character arcs and world events inVDFgo far beyond traditional legends. Rather than drawing directly from mythology,VDFpresents a human drama where diverse characters assert their own will and make choices in their struggle to defy fate.
A key concept in shaping this world was the idea that even gods are imperfect beings. Because these deities—often seen as transcendent—also have flaws, players will more clearly feel the game’s central theme: the individual’s fight against a destiny they cannot escape.
Vindictus: Defying Fate’s Playable Characters
Q: In what ways do the four characters that will feature in the June Alpha test (Lann, Fiona, Delia, and Karok) differ from theirVindictusselves, mechanically and/or narratively?
A:Narratively, Karok has always been portrayed as a serious character. Over time, Lann, Fiona, and Delia have also taken on a more composed and grounded tone. These evolving characterizations will become more apparent through additional content planned for the game’s official release.
From a gameplay perspective, unlike the originalVindictus, which was primarilydesigned around keyboard and mouse input,VDFhas been built from the ground up with gamepad support at its core. This shift has allowed us to rework each character’s combat style to better suit modern controls, while enhancing overall clarity and consistency. Some complex skill executions have been streamlined, and the combat system as a whole has been refined to feel more focused, responsive, and in line with the game’s current design direction.
Q: When adding Delia and Karok, did the team do anything differently compared to the initial inclusion of Lann and Fiona (given any lessons learned from the pre-alpha)?
A:Lann and Fiona were initially designed as foundational characters to help players get accustomed to the core action systems ofVDF. After the pre-alpha test, we introduced Delia and Karok—characters built around special mechanics such as situational actions and intentional constraints, offering playstyles suited for specific combat scenarios.
As we developed Delia and Karok, the overall combat direction of the game became more refined based on feedback from the pre-alpha. This refinement also circled back to Lann and Fiona, leading to notable updates in their combat systems. For example, Lann’s Fury has become snappier and more intuitive to use, while Fiona’s shield skills now offer both greater utility and dynamic new options in battle.
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