Roadmap

Q4 2018: The Idea of Off the Grid / Project Escher

It all started in 2018—a quiet, hopeful spark in the mind of one passionate dreamer. The idea for Rare Castle took shape from a love of storytelling, cinematic worlds, and the immersive magic of video games. Back then, it was nothing more than a dream—one that often kept me awake at night, imagining the possibilities of creating meaningful, story-driven experiences. Little did I know, that simple idea would become the foundation for everything that followed. This was the beginning of Rare Castle, even though no one knew it yet.

Q4 2021: Making the Website

In 2021, Rare Castle officially took shape as a side project during my free hours after my full-time job. I began building the website, sharing my vision, and laying the groundwork for the story-driven experiences that would later become the heart of my first game. This was the year of dreaming big and starting small, building the castle brick by brick.

Q1 2023: Dedication to the startup

In 2023, I took the plunge—quitting my full-time job to dedicate myself entirely to this dream. With everything I had and my savings, I invested in making Rare Castle a reality. The journey officially began with game development in full swing. While the road ahead seemed daunting, I knew this was the right step to take.

Q2 2023: The Mechanical Vessels

In Q2 of 2023, I began programming the first core game mechanic: soul possession. The concept was simple yet powerful—souls could inhabit mechanical vessels, giving both player and enemies unique way to interact with the game world. This mechanic would become central to the experience, offering both gameplay depth and a rich narrative layer as the game began to take shape.

Q3 2023: Writing the Lore

By the third quarter of 2023, everything I had envisioned for the game was swirling in my head like a storm—ideas, characters, the game world, lore, story, environments, mechanics, music, style, and vibe, all floating around, interconnected yet fragmented. I knew I had something special, but to bring it to life, I had to get it out of my head and onto paper.

So, I began to write. I crafted countless documents to capture every aspect of the game, from the overarching story to the smallest gameplay mechanic. Alongside these words, I created concept art to help visualize the world, its characters, and its atmosphere. This was a crucial step: not only did I need to clarify my own vision, but I also needed something tangible to share with others—potential collaborators, artists, and anyone else who might be interested in joining me on this adventure.

It was a whirlwind of creative energy, but it allowed me to see what I had created in a new light. These documents and visuals became the foundation of what would eventually become the game, a roadmap that would guide the development and show others the world I was building.

Q3 2024: The Rise of the Castle

At first, I was obsessed with finding the perfect name—something that could sum up all my ideas in just a few words. For a while, I considered “Salama Productions,” but something didn’t feel right. Then I realized that it wasn’t about the name—it was about the experience I wanted to create. As the ideas evolved, I found it: Rare Castle. The name finally clicked, capturing the essence of the journey I wanted to take players on, and from that moment, the castle began to rise.

Q4 2024: Writing the Game Pitch / Presentation

In Q4 2024, I took the first step toward formalizing the vision for the game by writing the Game Pitch—the seed from which the full Game Design Document (GDD) would grow. This pitch was more than just a brief overview; it was the initial blueprint that captured the essence of the game—its mechanics, story, characters, and unique selling points. It was the foundation upon which the GDD would be built, a crucial tool for bringing others on board and clearly communicating the heart of the project.

Q4 2024: Pitching to Potenial Funders and Publishers

By Q4 2024, it was time to take the game beyond just the vision. I made The Guardian’s Call, reaching out to potential funders and publishers to present the project. This was not just a request for support, but a call to those who could stand as protectors of the vision, helping guide it toward realization. With the pitch in hand, I sought allies who would help nurture and safeguard the future of the game and its world.

Q1 2025: Ahmed Fawzy Joins Rare Castle as Advisor

By Q1 2025, my brother Ahmed Fawzy joined Rare Castle as an advisor. With his extensive expertise as a software engineer, game play developer, programmer, and Authorized Instructor partner for Epic Games, he will provide invaluable guidance and support throughout our project development journey.

Q1 2025: An Industry Seal of Trust. An Alliance Forged.

On 28 March 2025, Rare Castle reached a defining milestone in its journey: becoming an Official PlayStation Partner with Sony Interactive Entertainment.

This recognition marks more than a partnership—it is a validation of vision, craftsmanship, and long-term commitment to building high-quality, story-driven interactive experiences. After years of independent development, experimentation, and relentless pursuit of excellence, Rare Castle earned its place within the global PlayStation developer ecosystem.

Becoming a PlayStation Partner grants Rare Castle official access to PlayStation’s professional development infrastructure and positions the studio among a trusted network of creators shaping the future of interactive entertainment.

For Rare Castle, this moment represents a transition—from an ambitious independent dream to a studio recognized at an industry level.
The castle is no longer rising in silence.
It has been seen.

Q2 2025: Six United Under One Vision. Rare Castle Expands from Solo Founder to a 6-Member Volunteer Team

In Q2 2025, Rare Castle reached a powerful internal milestone. What began as a solo vision evolved into a six-member volunteer team united by a shared belief in the project’s potential.

Artists, designers, programmers, and a composer came together. not through funding or contracts, but through passion and trust in the vision of Rare Castle.

This growth marks more than expansion.
It represents alignment. A shared commitment to build something meaningful. The castle is no longer built by one pair of hands.
It is rising through collective strength.

Q4 2025: Phase 3 Complete — 50% of the Demo Prototype Achieved

By December 13, 2025, Project Escher completed Phase 3 of its six-phase Heavy Prototyping cycle — officially reaching 50% completion of the demo / vertical slice.

This milestone marks the transition from isolated systems into an interconnected experience. Core gameplay mechanics, cinematic sequences, vehicle driving systems, and narrative-driven dialogue now operate together as a unified foundation.

What began as experimentation is evolving into structure.
What began as systems is becoming experience.

With three phases complete and three remaining, Project Escher moves forward toward a polished vertical slice prepared for submission to PlayStation.

The prototype is no longer theoretical. It is taking form.

Q1 2026: Official Submission of Project Escher.

On 31 January 2026, Rare Castle officially submitted Project Escher to the MENA edition of the PlayStation Hero Project, an initiative by Sony Interactive Entertainment supporting emerging game developers.

The submission included the playable demo, pitch deck, production roadmap, and supporting development materials — representing years of independent development refined into a formal industry presentation.

This milestone marked a decisive step forward: Project Escher moved from internal creation to official platform evaluation.

The vision was no longer private. It was placed on the table.

Q1 2026: Official Philosophical Trailer Released for the Demo

By February 11, 2026, Rare Castle released the first philosophical trailer for Project Escher’s demo — a cinematic piece designed not merely to showcase gameplay, but to express the deeper themes behind the experience.

Rather than focusing on mechanics alone, the trailer explored identity, perception, reality, and the fragile boundary between the physical and the abstract. It served as a tonal declaration — defining the psychological atmosphere that drives the project forward.

This was more than a promotional release. It was a statement of intent. The world of Project Escher did not just appear. It began to speak.