Kickstarter-funded action game "Republique" dropped its first episode on Dec. 19, exclusively available in the App Store.
IGN reports the stealth-action game is the product of Camouflaj founder Ryan Payton. Payton worked on games such as "Metal Gear Solid 4" and "Halo 4" before starting the Kickstarter campaign in 2012 to create Camouflaj.
Individual episodes retail for $4.99 each, but the full version will cost you $19.99 or $24.99.
VG247.com spoke with "Republique" game designer Paul Alexander about the timing of the game's release, just on the heals of all the NSA and wiring tapping scandals.
"Privacy and surveillance stories are especially prominent in the news right now, but they're sort of always with us," Alexander explained. "It's just that now they're tied up with the Internet, and there are new concerns associated with that technology which we've never dealt with. As a result, a lot of old questions are being raised. I think République finding inspiration in 1984 and Brave New World is emblematic of that."
In order to keep the game relevant to its backers, Camouflaj has been posting monthly updates on their site, according to VG247.com. However, the game developers have focused all of their energy on creating the game since receiving the funding.
"We're also an independent studio on a limited budget, so a crazy PR blitz months before release was never in the cards," Alexander said. "But really, I think we're just attracted to the idea of announcing everything right before launch, because a lot of people have probably forgotten about us, and we hope they'll be pleasantly surprised by the game's evolution."
However, gamers will have to wait until 2014 to play the PC and Mac versions of "Republique". The PC and Mac versions of the game will be "adjusted to the strengths of the platform," IGN reports.
