We Are OFK - What We Know So Far
"We Are OFK," an interactive game that tells the origin story of real-life indie pop group OFK, seems destined to become Steam's next indie gem. The cozy adventure is rife with moody imagery and smooth beats, all designed to capture the experiences of a group of friends in their 20s as they attempt to find love, pay rent, and carve out a spot in the Los Angeles music scene. Beyond the music, "We Are OFK" offers a full cast of voice actors that includes Ally Maki of "Toy Story 4" and "Dear White People," Greg Chun from "Squid Game," Deedee Magno Hall (Pearl from the animated series "Steven Universe"), and several others.
In addition to its art direction, one of the biggest "We Are OFK" draws may be its diverse array of characters. "Teen Me would be so proud that I'm a videogame protagonist. AND a super gay one," OFK bandmember Itsumi Saito said on the PlayStation blog. If you've ever struggled to make a living off your art or break into an industry where the odds were stacked against you, it shouldn't be hard to relate to the narrative. Can't wait to pop your headphones on and melt into a digital world of love, music, and texting? Here's what the developers have shared about "We Are OFK" so far.
When does We Are OFK release?
"We Are OFK" made its debut at The 2020 Game Awards, where the titular indie pop group performed its first single, "Follow/Unfollow." Riding that energy into the subsequent year, Team OFK shared plans to release the "music biopic game" and accompanying interactive EP at some point in 2022. Gamers will have the opportunity to snag the making-of-the-band series for PC, PS4, or PS5. Sorry Xbox users — this dreamy indie appears to be a PlayStation console exclusive.
In October, OFK announced on Twitter that it had partnered with record label Sony Music Soundtracks to bring its EP to life. If you can't wait for the game and full set of tracks to drop, you can put "Follow/Unfollow" on repeat. The song already has over 350,000 plays on Spotify, with OFK boasting 9,762 monthly listeners at the time of this writing. Wishlist "We Are OFK" on Steam now.
Is there a trailer for We Are OFK?
Beyond the "Follow/Unfollow" performance at The Game Awards, Team OFK has released two trailers for "We Are OFK." The first featured at E3 2021 and provides a look at the title's narrative. The second dropped during the October State of Play and showcases the chemistry and interactions between the core characters.
At just over one minute, the Story Reveal Trailer introduces the main cast: Itsumi, Luca, Carter, and Jey. Itsumi describes Luca as "the planet Saturn because he's far away" before designating Carter as "a shooting star because they have long sweaters and do wishes." Luca completes the picture, stating that Jey "is scary, but in a hot way, and is also a genius, but for your ears." The clip also provides a quick look at gameplay, which includes several pastel-hued locales, text conversations, and dialogue choices.
In the State of Play Trailer, you get to see a bit more of the bandmembers' personalities. Luca comes off as a bit silly and free-spirited, while Jey is more focused and tight-laced. Itsumi gets things done, though she seems a bit unsure of herself. Carter appears to be a pillar of the group, keeping the interactions more down to earth and offering support when needed. Team OFK will no doubt share more videos and content in the months leading up to the "We Are OFK" launch.
What is the gameplay like in We Are OFK?
"We Are OFK" combines five interactive, animated episodes with five interactive music videos to tell the story of how OFK formed. Set in Los Angeles, the action kicks off when Itsumi Saito ends her romantic relationship and moves downtown to pursue her musical aspirations. At a Hollywood party, she connects with a music producer whose star is on the rise — just the in she needs to finally make her dreams a reality.
"In a lot of game stories, the villain is a dragon, a sword man, an evil corporation. That's not our kind of story," the real-life Saito shared on the PlayStation blog. "In 'We Are OFK,' the villain is ... the struggles you face trying to create something: imposter syndrome, heartbreak, miscommunication, people with different dreams and priorities."
Team OFK has brought the characters to life with fully-voiced dialogue. Creative director Teddy Dief, known for their work on "Hyper Light Drifter," described "emotional texting, thirst texting, emoji spamming" as some of the key features of "We Are OFK." Its unclear what effect, if any, your choices have on how the narrative unfolds, as the title appears to fall solidly in the interactive adventure category.