Trickcal Patima plans its first closed beta recruitment for early 2027 as EPID Games looks for a publisher

What the alpha teaser shows

Inven Global describes the video as a compilation of alpha test footage covering the title screen, the lobby, the character information window, growth content and combat. As in the earlier Trickcal game, the report says, you start by pulling a character's cheek, which then gives way to an animated lobby with characters walking around a city.

From the lobby, Inven Global says, there is a Recruit menu for drawing characters and a progression menu called WorkNet. The personality-based attribute system from the previous game returns, and a system called Mutiny ties the character level cap to the account level. The outlet also spotted an Album feature that resembles the earlier game's Board. Gear looks different, though: rather than clearing stages for equipment materials, Inven Global says the game appears to focus on farming and enhancing set items called relics.

Combat, per the same report, uses a four-character party in a turn-based system driven by speed and action gauges. Before a character uses a skill, the camera swings round to show them from behind, and characters react when certain parts of their bodies are touched. Under a main content section called Departure, Inven Global lists three sub-modes, Cuberinth, Exploration and Full Ownership Tour, and says the teaser ends on a boss battle. The outlet describes the setting as near-future with a slice-of-life atmosphere.

The publisher pitch

After the in-game footage, the video turns into a pitch. Inven Global reports that EPID CEO Han Jeong-hyun, vice president Shim Jeong-seon and producer Lee Hyun-seung appear on camera. Han is quoted as saying, "Since we have a strong passion for animation, we worked hard to bring out that graphic style and gameplay. We are also paying close attention to visual effects and boss fights."

Lee then jokes, in Inven Global's translation, "We will do our best not to have to 'Revive' this time," before getting to the point: "We are looking for a publishing partner for global expansion so that we can focus entirely on development."

4Gamer's report backs this up. It says the developers are looking for a publisher that can handle the game's global service so they can concentrate on development, and that they jokingly pitched it as one of a kind, with full development strength and a marketing model thrown in free for any publisher that signs now. According to 4Gamer, the video closes with the CEO and vice president arguing over whose job it is to find that publisher.

What isn't known yet

Neither outlet reports any platforms. 4Gamer lists both the release date and the price as undecided. Inven Global says more details on the closed beta will be posted on the teaser page later. The project itself isn't brand new: Inven Global says it was first unveiled, unexpectedly, on 29 June.

Riley's take: Looking for a publisher is usually something a studio does behind closed doors. EPID put it in the trailer, showed the bosses arguing over whose job it is, and named a beta recruitment window. That is either refreshingly honest or the most cheek-pulling sales pitch in gaming, and I'm fine with both. The real test is whether Q1 2027 brings beta sign-ups with a partner attached.