Gate Zero isn’t just a time travel game. Imagine fleeing a totalitarian regime, grabbing a time machine, and finding yourself in first-century Judea. Sound crazy? But that’s exactly what Gate Zero Studios is offering. At Gamescom 2026, the developers released a fresh gameplay trailer and gave journalists a demo. We spoke with studio director Arve Solli to find out how they plan to surprise players.
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Gate Zero Plot and Features
The game takes place in the year 2072—a dystopia where the UniFi corporation controls all information, erasing inconvenient facts. The protagonist, Max, a young explorer, accidentally activates a time machine while escaping pursuit. He finds himself in ancient Israel, during the time of Jesus. Now he must not only return home but also undo the consequences of other travelers’ meddling in history. You’ll explore cities, battle dark entities, and make moral choices that shape fate. Moreover, the plot isn’t just window dressing: dialogue directly impacts combat. In the demo, we were given several response options before one of the bosses—and the correct line shaved off a good chunk of the enemy’s health. A small thing, but a nice touch.
Arve Solli himself admits: the idea was born from a desire to create a game set in a historical period that had been largely untouched in the industry. “We wanted to combine it with truly engaging gameplay,” he says. And time travel is a great hook to tie everything together.
Historical Setting and Gameplay of Eon World
Gate Zero is neither a biblical walking simulator nor a wild sword-fighting action game. The developers have separated two worlds. Ancient Judea and Galilee are as down-to-earth as possible, with Romans, stealth, and minor skirmishes. And then there’s Eon World—a fantastical dimension where a future mode distorts the timeline, and the player must return everything to its original state. This is where the developers allow themselves more freedom without sacrificing historical accuracy in the main game.
“We don’t put these things side by side,” Solly clarifies. “We’re making a game at the intersection of them.” And it damn well works. In the demo, we saw both open areas with dusty roads and the surreal spaces of Eon World—the contrast is striking.
Gate Zero Locations and World Design
Contrary to expectations, Gate Zero is not a seamless open world. It’s a semi-open world: several locations, each traversable in a few minutes, but within it, there’s complete freedom. There are areas near cities, deserts, and hills. Exploration is encouraged, but not required: if you’re eager to follow the story, you can skip the side routes. “We want to convey the tension between the Jews and the Romans through the atmosphere, not by galloping across Europe,” explains Solly. At the same time, in Eon World, you can deviate even further from the main path, offering more room for experimentation.
Stealth Combat and Dialogue
Gate Zero’s gameplay mechanics are tightly intertwined. Max is a teenager, not a superhero, but he has technology from the future. You can fight openly, hide in the shadows, or solve problems with words. The developers promise that dialogue options won’t be merely cosmetic: they’ll provide real advantages in combat or unlock hidden paths. We saw this firsthand in the demo. Incidentally, if you’re a shooter fan like me (eight years of Escape from Tarkov is no joke), then an aggressive style will also suit you. But those who enjoy stealth and conversation will find just as many tools at their disposal.
Solli emphasizes that the game’s story is rich, but there’s no pressure to delve into every detail. If you want to delve deeper, go ahead. If not, choose the obvious option and go to battle. “The main thing is for people to immerse themselves in this world and enjoy it,” he concludes.
Religious Theme in the Context of Gate Zero
The biblical setting is a sensitive subject. But Arve Solli takes it in stride, even with pride. When asked directly about the reaction of religious audiences, he replied, “I’m not worried. On the contrary, I’m proud of it.” For him, the time of Jesus is an extremely important historical period, and the game isn’t a way to offend anyone, but an opportunity to explore it through an interactive lens. At the same time, the developers don’t resort to cheap sensationalism—they treat the material with respect, but without fanaticism.
AAA Developers Working on Gate Zero
A team of over 30 specialists is working on Gate Zero, and they’re not newcomers. They’re comprised of people who contributed to Assassin’s Creed, GTA, PUBG, Apex Legends, Red Dead Redemption, Diablo, and other hits. Solli himself is the studio’s director, and the development diaries mention artists who worked on Diablo 4. This pool of experience inspires confidence. And although the game is positioned as a third-person action adventure, its ambitions are those of a full-fledged AAA project.
Gate Zero Release Results and Expectations
So, what’s the bottom line? Gate Zero looks like a bold experiment: a story untouched, a blend of reality and fantasy, flexible gameplay, and a solid team. The release date is still unknown, but it looks like we’re in for something more than just another biblical RPG. We’ll have to stay tuned—and hope the final version retains the charm we saw at Gamescom.
