After a protracted development cycle, numerous delays and the rumoured death of the title, Ubisoft has finally confirmed that survival game I Am Alive will be making its bow in 2011, but in a form you might not expect.

Originally touted as a full price title for next gen consoles and PC, Ubisoft has just confirmed that I Am Alive will instead debut on XBLA and PSN (with the PC version cancelled) towards the end of 2011.

That game was originally set to follow the story of a normal man, Adam Collins, who is trapped in a devastated Chicago after a major earthquake. Using on his wits, he must survive long enough to find his missing girlfriend as the few remaining survivors fend for themselves, often in violent ways. The gameplay is set to focus more on exploration and stealth than full on action, with early footage showing Adam using water bottles as bait and trying to avoid combat wherever possible.




Two years on and the aspect of the game has changed considerably – as you can tell from this official plot synopsis: I Am Alive follows an everyman’s journey to find his wife and daughter, who were lost during the “Event.” A year later, he finds Haventon, his hometown, in shambles. Buildings are destroyed, toxic ash fills the streets, and society has been torn, causing inhabitants to take all necessary actions to survive.

“We know people have been waiting for this game to arrive, and we believe it’s going to be worth the wait,” said Adam Novickas, Director of Marketing at Ubisoft. “I Am Alive presents a unique take on the post-apocalyptic, survival genre by creating more complex and emotional situations for the player. Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network are the perfect platforms to leverage the mature and challenging experiences of the game.”

In I Am Alive, players will be challenged by both their environment and their enemies. Stamina and resource management are key when being exposed to deadly atmospheres and scaling enormous buildings in search of supplies. The unique combat system requires players to utilize intimidation: cowards are easily swayed with an empty gun, while other enemies will put players to the test.

Check out the new trailer:




The change to a downloadable model is also a strange move, given that the 5 year plus development time of the game must have cost Ubisoft a considerable amount, with the change in direction being even more pricey. Things look to be more action oriented than ever now while the graphics and gameplay look to be of a higher quality than you might expect from a downloadable title.

We’ll have more on I Am Alive when we get it but look for it on XBLA and PSN in late 2011.