The Narrative Core of Rezium

When we set out to create the universe of Rezium, we knew from the start that we wanted a world that felt both epic and grounded. It had to be a universe that took the grand themes of classic sci-fi and wove them into something a bit more relatable, a bit more "what if this is how our future really unfolds?"

In this Q&A with Creative Director Matt McGinniss, we want to share the themes behind Rezium’s seven-system universe, the factions that inhabit it, and the future that awaits.

Q: What inspired the narrative story telling themes and style?

A: From the start, we wanted Rezium to be a space opera that felt believable We wanted the grand scale of a Star Trek or Star Wars, blended with a dash of realism from The Expanse by James Corey. It had to something that could actually grow out of our own world’s future.

We leaned heavily on the idea that as cybernetics, AI and robotics advance, humanity’s expansion into space will mirror some of the geopolitical patterns we have on Earth today. We wanted to explore not just technology, but what it means to be human in a future dominated by space exploration.

We drew inspiration from cyberpunk classics like Blade Runner, the gritty writings of William Gibson's 1984 classic Neuromancer, and films like The Matrix, to think about how humanity and technology evolve together.

Jalen contemplates his future - From the Comic 'Escape from Earth'

Q: How did you decide on the three main factions and the seven systems?

A: The factions were a way to create the ongoing tension and cooperation dynamic. We looked at the world today and saw how different regions have their own strengths and technological focuses. So we projected that into space three hundred years into the future.

Roqore has that mining and industrial vibe, kind of like the resource-rich areas of Earth’s southern hemisphere. Saryon carries forward that North American feel of corporate and military power, while Zaikov brings in that East Asian and Russian influence of research, industry and deep-space exploration.

Each faction has its own home turf in the Sol System. Roqore around Mars, Saryon around Jupiter, and Zaikov out by Neptune. And while they have to work together to find Rezium, they’re also rivals, which gives the whole story a layer of political intrigue with senators representing each Sector. And this allows us to expand the representation, as the colonial impulses emerge with new planets and moons becoming outposts under the influence of each faction.

Unlike some other space game storylines, we didn't want to create endless empty space, because we felt this would ultimately give little meaning in terms of a storyline. By limiting our narrative to seven systems, we want our audience to be able to understand the different systems, the way to travel, and the feeling that this is a busy place where you could encounter others at any time. It's this feeling of a populated space that we think will make the experience more satisfying, yet still remain vast and open for exploration.

To read the first novella flipbook, The Rise of Mars, join us at: https://www.rezium.io/join

Q: What does the future hold for the world of Rezium?

A: One of the things we’re most excited about is that Rezium isn’t just a static universe. The mineral itself, Rezium, is the central premise. It’s this powerful terraforming resource that drives an endless search and trade economy.

But beyond that, we’ve got a grand narrative arc that will unfold over time with nine planned novellas, associated comics, and a lot of storytelling depth. We have a lot of twists and deeper meanings that we haven’t revealed yet, and that’s part of the fun. We want players and storytellers to join us in this evolving universe and discover those secrets along the way.

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To read the first novella flipbook, The Rise of Mars, be sure to join is at: https://www.rezium.io/join