Arsene Lupin: Once A Thief to steal onto PC and consoles this year

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Origin anthology unveiled by Microids and Blazing Griffin, creators of the Hercule Poirot early cases

Having already collaborated on several cases starring Agatha Christie's famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, now Microids and developer Blazing Griffin are setting their sights on another literary figure for the upcoming Arsene Lupin: Once A Thief.

Created in the early 1900s by French writer Maurice Leblanc, the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin has appeared in over fifty written stories and numerous adaptations, most recently the Netflix television series Lupin. Now players can experience his origin story directly for the first time, as Lupin recounts tales of his "transformation from whimsical burglar to legendary hero" over fireside chats with the author himself. Not merely a witness but an active participant, you'll get to explore the "early life, loves and crimes" of the burglar with a heart of gold. But you'll also get to play as his greatest nemesis, the tireless Detective Ganimard, offering yet another unique perspective on iconic Lupin tales like "The Arrest of Arsène Lupin" and "Herlock Sholmes Arrives Too Late."

As with Blazing Griffin's Hercule Poirot games, The First Cases and The London Case, Once A Thief features a number of stylishy illustrated environments explored from an isometric viewpoint. As Lupin "retells his own escapades with a flair for the dramatic," you'll meet a variety of colourful characters, solve puzzles, and "adopt a variety of disguises as you take on exciting criminal escapades while constantly striving to outsmart the law and stay one step ahead." Then the script will get flipped, as you follow in Lupin's footsteps as the investigator Ganimard, "searching for evidence, interrogating suspects, creating timelines, and connecting the dots to pursue and apprehend your legendary adversary."

No target launch date has yet been announced, but Arsene Lupin: Once A Thief is due to arrive for Windows PC on Steam, GOG and Epic sometime later this year, along with console versions for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch platforms.