Golden Tides is an expansive open-world adventure game that takes players on an unforgettable journey across mystical seas. Explore ancient ruins, discover hidden treasures, and battle legendary sea creatures in this visually stunning experience built with Unreal Engine 5.
The Vision
Our goal was ambitious: create a seamless open world where players could sail between islands, dive into underwater ruins, and uncover a story that spans centuries. We wanted every horizon to promise adventure, every wave to hide secrets.
Key Features
- Seamless open-world exploration - No loading screens between islands
- Dynamic weather system - Storms that affect gameplay and navigation
- Rich narrative experience - Over 40 hours of story content
- Stunning real-time graphics - Powered by Unreal Engine 5
- Original orchestral soundtrack - 3 hours of original music
Technical Achievements
Building an open-world game on water presented unique challenges. Traditional level streaming doesn't work well with ocean environments. We developed a custom solution using Unreal Engine 5's World Partition system, modified to handle our dynamic ocean simulation.
The ocean itself required months of iteration. We needed waves that looked beautiful, responded realistically to weather, and allowed for smooth ship navigation. Our technical artists created a layered system combining Gerstner waves with FFT-based simulations.
Development Timeline
The project took 3 years from initial concept to release, with a team of 25 developers at peak production. We went through multiple prototypes before settling on the final gameplay loop that balances exploration, combat, and storytelling.
Ready to Build
Something Amazing?
Whether you have a game concept, need VR/AR development, or want to bring your creative vision to life — we're here to help make it happen.
Or email us directly at hello@mattacode.studio