The End of the Sun launched on Xbox Series X|S on Nov. 4, bringing its first-person Slavic folklore adventure to the console. The abandoned village draws on Polish museum collections and traditional crafts, with scanned objects appearing as interactive parts of the story rather than background props. The game is available on the Xbox Store.
The developers used photogrammetry to scan hundreds of historical objects and entire buildings, with help from the Open-Air Museum in Szymbark and the Grociarnia Ethnographic Museum in Jastrzębia, according to their Xbox Wire account of the process. They say about 80% of the objects players encounter across the game’s locations came from real-world originals.
The scans do more than lend cottages convincing detail. In one quest, players examine a traditional hand mill’s parts and learn how it grinds grain into flour. Other quests involve tools for twisting rope and sharpening a knife. Optional “Learn More” points explain unfamiliar objects and their history, letting players pick up context as they explore.
Polish craft and landscape add detail beyond museum collections. The village features bobbin lace from a local gallery, floral patterns inspired by Zalipie, and rocks scanned in nearby nature reserves. A carpenter’s workshop or a collection of weaving tools can also suggest a character’s work and everyday life without relying on dialogue.
The setting changes across four seasons and different points in time. A cottage might appear damaged or neglected in one period and renovated in another, while the vegetation follows the Central European climate. The developers also recorded sounds at outdoor locations throughout all four seasons, bringing real-world nature into the game’s soundscape.
Digitizing the artifacts gives them a place in the adventure and preserves a record of objects that could deteriorate or disappear. Which traditional tool or craft would you most want to interact with in the village? To keep up with the game’s mix of Polish craft and changing seasons, follow along on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
