Passion Project from Indie Developer, +Mpact Games, to Remember Those Lost to Cancer Celebrates Completion of 14-Year Journey with Generous 40% Launch Week Discount
ATLANTA, GA – September 15, 2021 – It’s a time for warriors, courage, and above all, the future of a nation… +Mpact Games, a small team of developers united to make a very personal game, today announced that Hanako: Honor & Blade, its immersive online multiplayer combat experience set in Feudal Japan, has launched on Steam for PC. Recently awarded an Epic MegaGrant, the game has been meticulously developed over 14 years as a passion project to remember those lost to cancer. Hanako: Honor & Blade is available for $8.99 during launch week, a massive 40% discount off the normal $14.99 price to reward the first samurai on the battlefield.
In 2007, industry veteran and team lead, Matt Canei, made a teenage vow to honor the memory of his mother, Janie, following her tragic passing after her battle with breast cancer. He co-founded +Mpact in his free time, outside of his full-time roles, to help channel his grief and to commemorate his mother through his passion for creating games. Today, Matt works at ILMxLAB and his dedicated team have fulfilled his vow, with Hanako: Honor & Blade symbolizing the battle between life and death, as embodied by the game’s two warrior clans. The Hanako clan represents health and goodness in the spirit of Matt’s mother, and the Yamai clan symbolize the opposition to life inherent in cancer and other diseases. The natural balance of the opposing forces metaphorically represents real-life tragedies while seeking to honor those lost.
“We created Hanako: Honor & Blade to help us cope with the loss of loved ones through cathartic samurai multiplayer combat representing life and destruction,” said Matt Canei, Team Lead at +Mpact Games. “I know my mother would be proud, and I want to thank our community for sharing the journey with us. I wish all of you strength in your battles—in the game and in life.”
Beyond the symbolism, Hanako: Honor & Blade takes players online for immersive battles in a beautiful recreation of Feudal Japan between up to 24 players. Players can help decide the future of a nation by playing as one of four distinct warrior classes including the capable swordsman, powerful spearman, eagle-eyed archer, or nimble ninja. Each class has different build/skill options and features directionally driven combat, abilities, and spirit-based skills to get an extra edge. Players will play as one of two clans and seek to defeat opponents through multiple game modes and maps, with each game level presenting unique obstacles and mechanics that will require strategy and teamwork to defeat enemies.
Game Key Features
- Epic online battles set in Feudal Japan with up to 24 players
- A symbolic struggle between the forces of life and death
- Five game modes with unique features, including team deathmatch Battle, Capture the Scroll, Village Siege, Castle Raid, and new Duel mode
- Directional-driven combat that encourages strategy and precision
- Four distinct warrior classes with different skill options for multiple playstyles
- Dynamic environment changes
- Bots to fill out teams or provide practice opponents
- Immersive audio and orchestral soundtrack
Hanako: Honor & Blade is developed and self-published by +Mpact Games. The game is now available on PC via Steam, with the standard edition on sale during launch week for $8.99, discounted from the regular price of $14.99. A Founder’s Pack with exclusive in-game helmet and mask is now available for $39.99 with the game, or $24.99 standalone without the game. To stay up to date on the game, please join the Discord at discord.playhanako.com and follow us at @PlayHanako, facebook.com/playhanako, and twitch.tv/hanakogame.
About +Mpact Games
Hanako: Honor & Blade started as an award-winning college project back in 2007 with team co-founders, Matt Canei, Connor McCarthy, and Ajani Thomas. The project originated with Matt’s teenage vow to honor his mother, Janie, following her tragic passing after a five-year battle with breast cancer. Janie was a brilliantly positive and loving mother who raised Matt to always follow his dreams, and Hanako is a passion project that symbolizes the battle between life and destruction, with two samurai clan representing light and darkness. All three co-founders are now experienced developers, with Matt currently at ILMxLAB, and the game has continually evolved as their skills have advanced. Other than an Epic MegaGrant, the game has been made without any funding. Its full release on Steam on September 15, 2021, 14 years after it was conceived, makes it one of the longest independent game launches in history. For more information, visit hanakogame.com.
# # #
