It was probably Christopher Nolan's movie The Prestige that put the idea into my mind that old timey magicians were a bit seedy, a touch obsessive, and absolutely bonkers competitive with one another, perfectly willing to maim themselves and even die horribly to stay one step ahead when it came to performing illusions.
Magicians: The Devil's Deal was revealed today at the Xbox Games Showcase, and it's got quite the same vibes at The Prestige—plus a whole lot of Bioshock.
It's a cinematic trailer so it's hard to be sure, but it's a first-person shooter where instead of guns your weapons are playing cards and magic wands, and you battle deranged circus acts like clowns, strongmen, and jugglers. It also appears that you can use your magic to alter the environment and even reverse gravity to walk on the ceiling. Try that, David Blaine.
"You play as Jacob Menteuro, a fallen illusionist bound by a pact with The Devil and cast into Hell. Master deadly tricks, steal the powers of rival magicians, and escape the infernal world of Theatreland," its Steam store page says.
Magicians: The Devil's Deal is due out in 2027. And on a personal note, to all you magicians out there: you don't need to make a deal with the devil. Card tricks are fine. We all like card tricks! You don't need to sell your soul for actual magic powers.
