Hungarian indie studio Elder Games has launched its roguelite first-person shooter Soulslinger: Envoy of Death on Xbox Series X|S, using a custom at-home motion capture setup to animate the game’s characters. The studio’s founder, Ede Tarsoly, performed all the male character animations, while his wife handled the female roles, resulting in hundreds of unique motion sequences created entirely in-house.
Early Interest in Motion Capture
Tarsoly has been interested in motion capture since childhood, fascinated by behind-the-scenes footage on DVDs and early mocap applications in films such as The Lord of the Rings. When motion capture technology became more accessible, he acquired a full-body suit supported by publisher Headup, enabling him to translate this long-standing interest into practical development work for Elder Games.
The motion capture setup uses a suit with sensors on every joint, alongside gloves for hand movements and additional markers on the head and wrists. Movements are captured in real-time and recorded for direct use in the game, allowing for natural character animations that reflect the actors’ performance.
Planning and Choreography
The preparation phase for mocap sequences is extensive. Tarsoly works from detailed scripts provided by writer Michelle Clough, often rehearsing movements for several days before recording. Each character is given a distinct motion style, with the villain’s upright, calculated posture contrasting with more expressive characters such as the pirate. Even non-human enemies, like zombies and skeletons, are carefully choreographed to ensure motion feels consistent with their in-game design.
Recording typically occurs over a single day, thanks to extensive preparation. Props such as weighted replica weapons help achieve realistic movement, while ropes and household objects simulate actions for spells, floating enemies, or other in-game effects. Once captured, the animations are imported into Unreal Engine, where camera placement and scene composition are finalized.
Integrating Mocap with Gameplay
Elder Games emphasizes that motion capture is integrated alongside ongoing game development rather than treated as a standalone cinematic process. This allows cutscenes to feel closely connected to the gameplay experience while maintaining the fast-paced roguelike mechanics of Soulslinger: Envoy of Death. The approach also enables more flexible scheduling, allowing the indie team to maximize their resources without relying on external mocap studios.
The result is a western-fantasy world where players take on the role of the Soulslinger, upgrading abilities, crafting weapons, and navigating encounters that shape the story. The game’s narrative and combat systems are closely linked, with choices affecting both gameplay and story outcomes.
A Practical Setup for Indie Development
Tarsoly noted that the at-home mocap system has influenced the studio’s future project planning. While the setup requires careful preparation and practice, it provides Elder Games with a creative tool that allows for high-quality animations without extensive outsourcing. This demonstrates how smaller teams can leverage available technology to produce polished, immersive gameplay experiences.
Soulslinger: Envoy of Death is now available on Xbox Series X|S, marking a milestone for Elder Games in delivering an indie roguelite FPS that combines custom motion capture with engaging gameplay.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What platforms is Soulslinger: Envoy of Death available on?
Soulslinger: Envoy of Death is currently available on Xbox Series X|S.
Who developed Soulslinger: Envoy of Death?
The game was developed by Hungarian indie studio Elder Games, led by founder Ede Tarsoly.
How did Elder Games create the character animations?
The studio used a custom at-home motion capture setup, with Tarsoly performing all male character animations and his wife performing the female roles.
Does motion capture affect gameplay?
Yes. The mocap animations are designed to integrate directly with gameplay, making cutscenes and character movements feel consistent with the roguelike FPS experience.
Can the mocap setup be used for future projects?
Tarsoly has indicated that the home mocap system is influencing the studio’s planning for future games, providing a flexible and cost-effective way to create custom animations.
What type of game is Soulslinger: Envoy of Death?
It is a fast-paced, story-driven roguelite FPS set in a western-fantasy world, combining combat, character upgrades, and narrative choices.
