While many of our favorite properties eventually conquer the entire media landscape, Reflector Entertainment has planned to spread its mysterious new project across multimedia from the beginning. Unknown 9 could potentially reach all kinds of audiences through video games, graphic novels, and podcasts.

The Vision

Founded in 2016 by Alexandre Amancio and Lune Rouge, Reflector Entertainment is a transmedia company that aims to create multiple narratives within “Storyworlds” that intertwine its characters across novels, video games, movies, podcasts, comics, and more. The unique universe orchestrated by Reflector unlocks a level of storytelling that’s limitless. Its goal is to tell “cross-platform storytelling,” and is an innovative and ambitious project to undertake.

Amancio compared the idea to a “well-conducted symphony,” where every piece of the story-driven experience is “launched in a way designed to enhance the fan experience.” Reflector has stated on its website that it wants audiences to build their own path through each narrative, and navigate the expanse of every story through multiple platforms. This will ultimately allow participants to become part of the creative process as well.

Each narrative that exists within the Storyworld is designed to complement the other, but they can also stand independently. Reflector’s website expands on this idea, by explaining how the protagonist of the movie may only serve as a supporting role in the video game, and so on. As you experience each story, across all the platforms, the lore of the Unknown 9 universe expands, and grants insight into the broader narrative, the characters, and mythology.

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The Unveiling

Whispers of Unknown 9 - Reflector’s first project - began to circulate before the property debuted at New York Comic Con in 2018. The studio hosted an interactive experience for attendees, who were introduced to a hidden organization known as the Leap Year Society. It was disclosed that this ambiguous society had to collect keys to unlock some of the world’s biggest mysteries, and that the society’s quest would begin with a novel trilogy, comic book, scripted podcast, and a series of interactive games.

All Known Unknown 9 Media

The Genesis Trilogy is a series of novels written by Layton Green, and follows a disturbed young woman whose peculiar hallucinations begin to have meaning when a man is murdered. Student Andie Robertson embarks on a harrowing journey of crime investigation and self-discovery that unlocks a wave of world history.

The comic book series Torment - written by Brandon Thomas, with art by Francis Portela and Leonardo Paciarotti Dimaggio - features Jaden Crowe who unintentionally crosses paths with the Leap Year Society. As his life is propelled into chaos, unfathomable details concerning his destiny rise to meet him, and the fight for his sanity begins

Out of Sight is Reflector’s scripted podcast that presents urban explorer Blake Elrich as he travels the country with his partner Lazari. Every pit stop is home to strange happenings, which lead them to the conclusion that they are being led to these occurrences deliberately. As the overwhelming presence of a terrifying force begins to grow, Blake and Lazari must subdue the awakening of an unstoppable enemy.

Unknown 9: Chapters is the final source of Leap Year Society material on offer for now, which was released as an online, interactive game. Reflector’s common goal was to unite “Quaestors” online, to solve puzzles and participate in virtual events to discover the root of strange occurrences happening all over the world.

All of the above media can be found on the Unknown 9 website.

Unknown 9: Awakening

Debuting its teaser trailer at Gamescom this year, Reflector’s first video game entry Unknown 9: Awakening was a surprise for the gaming community. The third-person action-adventure showcased young Indian girl Haroona as the game’s protagonist. The trailer revealed the supernatural powers that allowed her to enter into a hidden dimension called The Fold.

Developed by a small team within Reflector, Awakening delivered an impressive first-look at the Unknown 9 franchise within the realms of gaming. The game is slated for release in 2021, but Reflector has encouraged fans of the trailer to indulge in the rest of the Unknown 9 franchise on offer just now.

Unknown 9 is vast, and the ambitious project is starting to attract a healthy following after Awakening’s teaser trailer. Reflector Entertainment has recently been acquired by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, where a strategy has been formed to deliver this franchise in the best way possible, that will engage audiences from all walks of life.

Stay tuned.

Unknown 9: Awakening will release on all next-gen consoles in 2021

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