Engram Interactive, in partnership with indie.io, has officially launched Fractured Core on Steam. This cyberpunk turn-based JRPG drops players into the life of Michael Jones, a gifted special forces operative beginning his career with the elite Athena private military company. As a squad leader, players will navigate high-stakes missions, ruthless corporate politics, and a world where every technological breakthrough comes with a darker undercurrent.
Life as an Athena Operative
Set in a future where unrestricted human augmentation, advanced AIs, and psionic warfare are everyday realities, Fractured Core gives players control over a three-person squad. Missions range from covert assassinations and high-value extractions to cleaning up corporate experiments gone wrong.
Lead designer Timoteus Ivan Suprapto explains the game’s European focus:
“We thought Japan and the US were overused in cyberpunk. So we chose Germany — a highly developed nation barely represented in the genre — and later expanded to Italy.”
This unique setting lets players explore walkable, sustainable cities that hide corporate corruption and grim truths about humanity under sleek, high-tech façades.
Tactical Combat Meets Deep Customization
The game’s turn-based combat takes inspiration from classic JRPG systems but expands them with:
- Customizable Squads – Equip operatives with weapons, armor, accessories, and chip-based modifications.
- Six Psionic Elements – Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Dark powers to exploit enemy weaknesses.
- Symmetrical Systems – Enemies operate under the same rules as players, making every encounter a strategic puzzle.
Opponents range from corporate security forces and rogue AI mechs to biotech abominations. Success depends not just on firepower, but on knowing when and how to use it.
Beyond the Battlefield
When not on missions, players can explore future Germany and Italy, build relationships with fellow Athena operatives, and interact with a cast of allies and rivals — from eccentric front desk staff to high-ranking power brokers. The narrative combines political intrigue, personal drama, and classic cyberpunk themes of power, control, and moral compromise.
Fractured Core is now available on Steam. Prospective operatives can enlist immediately and see if they have what it takes to survive — and thrive — in the corporate shadow war.
