Time to finally break my silence on this after many years! Soulcreek is getting a sequel! Voidsong was always the kind of story I wanted to tell, but it was way too intimidating for a first time VN project. Now, with plenty of experience under my belt, I'm ready to give it a shot. This story was always part of the plan, and quite a few big elements of Soulcreek wouldn't exist without it looming in the future!

Work is already well underway with all of chapter one and most of chapter two written. Sprite work is being handled by the very capable Draygoezz and already we're seeing some absolutely awesome characters!

I had planned to announce the sequel the same day as releasing it, but with the release still quite a few months away and people getting pretty desperate for some news on what's coming next, I decided to announce it a little early. To quench some of the thirst, here's some more information on what Voidsong is. Keep watching this space, follow me on twitter or join our official discord server if you want to bug me in person!

What is Voidsong?

Voidsong is an upcoming FVN written by Ryuo with sprite illustration by Draygoezz. It is a generational sequel to Soulcreek that takes place fifteen years after the events of the first VN.

Do I have to read Soulcreek to understand what’s going on in Voidsong?

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: reading Soulcreek first will give you the best experience as Voidsong isn’t really designed to be read in isolation. Although Voidsong will very much be considered its own story, there are many returning themes and characters that are best enjoyed with a full understanding of the world. That being said, it’s entirely possible to jump into Voidsong with little to no understanding of the lore that these stories take place in as, again, this a new story built upon a different trauma.

Who is the protagonist?

Mylo, the gunslinging tiger with a sharp, deductive mind, is the protagonist of Voidsong, but the story is also told from the perspective of the Last Human. The point of view will switch between them at various points, with Mylo’s being the most prominent.

Will old characters be returning?

Some will. In particular, Loken has a large part in Voidsong right from the start, though he will be less dominant in his role than in Soulcreek since Voidsong is Mylo’s story. The Last Human, the protagonist of Soulcreek, also plays a pivotal role. 

Can I change the player character’s names?

Mylo’s name cannot be changed as he’s an established character from the previous story. The Last Human’s name defaults to Alex, but there is an option to change this at the beginning so you can maintain continuity between your readthrough of Voidsong and Soulcreek.

Who is creating the art for Soulcreek?

Draygoezz has taken the role of sprite artist for Voidsong, so the characters are in their very capable hands. There will also be CGs and backgrounds from a variety of other artists.

What will the release format for Voidsong be?

Voidsong will be released for free episodically as ‘chapters’. Each new update will add a new chapter. The story will have a primary narrative that moves along with each new build, but individual chapters may also have their own themes or subplots.

Will there be a Patreon?

Yes. Patreon supporters will be able to read one chapter ahead of public builds, so will have access to chapter one and chapter two on release day.

Will there be romance and NSFW content?

Yes. Voidsong will include two possible love interests that Mylo can pursue - one male and one female. Both are planned to include explicit scenes, though they are quite sparse as sexual content is not the focus of this project. The dialogue will be openly sexual and extremely crass from the very beginning. There may also be an option to opt out of either romance, though this is not set in stone.

Will I have to engage with the gay/straight content if I’m not interested in it?

You choose your romance option and this is where the explicit NSFW content is found. However, Mylo is openly bisexual regardless of your choices and will make no effort to hide it. Additionally, the m/m relationship between the Last Human and Loken continues its arc in Voidsong, and cannot be skipped as it is integral to the story. If this isn’t for you, don’t read Voidsong.

Are both romance paths very different?

Not really. Both options still give you the same story. When you choose Mylo’s love interest it will change a few scenes and dialogues, but the main story will stay the same. There are no significant branching paths, and playing both choices twice won’t result in different ‘routes’. If you’re a content creator, I wouldn’t recommend doing playthroughs of both options as there won’t be significant branches of varying content save for the odd scene here and there.

Will there be gore or other potentially disturbing content?

It’s difficult to say right now exactly what will and will not appear in terms of precise content as most chapters won’t be fully fleshed out until it’s time to write them. For the most part, yes, there will be gore and horror scenes some readers may find distressing.

Will there be choices?

No. Unlike Soulcreek, which included a few consequence-free choices, the only choices given in Voidsong relate to Mylo’s choice of love interest.

What was the inspiration for the story of Voidsong? Is it another cosmic-horror like Soulcreek?

No. Soulcreek was primarily inspired by Lovecraftian fiction, whereas Voidsong draws inspiration from a variety of different works such as The Last of Us, Sherlock Holmes and Dead Space. Although there will certainly be elements of horror in Voidsong and a similar focus on atmospheric terror, this is a different story with a different vibe. The focus has shifted far more to the vague all-encompassing umbrella of ‘action adventure’.

Will Voidsong have a similar focus on sound effects and its own OST?

Yes, I’m hoping to have all original music from the start. Just like with Soulcreek, music and sound will be closely baked together so there won’t be an option to turn music off as it’s too integral to the framework of the scenes.

When will Voidsong be ready for release?

We’re hoping to release the first chapter closer to August this year, but it might be slightly later.