Drives Coverage for Narrative RPG Launch

Owlcat Games engaged UberStrategist to lead PR for the launch of Rue Valley, a narrative-driven RPG built around a time loop and the protagonist’s struggle with depression. Early materials positioned the title alongside Disco Elysium, which shaped media expectations ahead of release.

Our responsibility was to guide the launch and review outreach across PC and consoles during a crowded Q4 launch window. Securing thoughtful review coverage would require early coordination and precise targeting, given limited editorial space and high competition for attention.

UberStrategist structured the campaign around a focused launch push, with review outreach beginning the moment keys were available. We built a targeted list of narrative RPG outlets and press who had shown interest in introspective, story-driven titles, while also tracking inbound key requests and following up directly on intent to cover.

When review codes arrived only one to two weeks before launch, we shifted into an accelerated pitching cycle. We increased follow-ups, re-prioritized outlets based on responsiveness, and kept Owlcat informed through weekly calls that addressed press sentiment and early reception.

The campaign secured 105 pieces of launch and review coverage, including 35 Tier 1 placements. Outlets such as GameSpot, Nintendo Life, The Escapist, and 80 Level covered the release, alongside a VICE feature and a segment on Kinda Funny.

Several publications, including Game8, The Gamer, Destructoid, and GBATemp, published positive reviews, and the title achieved a 70% score on Metacritic. While comparisons to Disco Elysium influenced critical discussion and sparked mixed sentiment, UberStrategist generated broad awareness and sustained review coverage despite late key distribution and heavy seasonal competition.