Magicians: The Devil’s Deal Looks Like BioShock With Stage Magic, Coming To Game Pass
Magicians: The Devil’s Deal was revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase as an ambitious first-person shooter that blends BioShock’s immersive sim design with the competitive world of Houdini-era stage magic. The game is developed by Uppercut Games, a studio founded by veterans of the BioShock franchise, bringing familiar design sensibilities to an entirely new setting and concept.
Set against a historical backdrop of turn-of-the-century magic, the game reimagines FPS gameplay by replacing traditional firearms with stage magic and card tricks as primary weapons. Players will use magic wands and playing cards to affect the world in various ways, engaging with what appears to be deranged circus performers and obsessive magicians. The cinematic trailer evokes comparisons to Christopher Nolan’s “The Prestige,” hinting at a dark, competitive atmosphere among magic practitioners willing to go to extreme lengths for their craft.
Magicians: The Devil’s Deal will launch in 2027 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox platforms, with confirmed availability on Xbox Game Pass. The game is published by Focus Entertainment. While the game’s exact mechanics remain partially obscured by its cinematic announcement trailer, it represents a significant tonal and thematic shift for Uppercut Games, which most recently developed the adventure title Submerged: Hidden Depths. The studio’s pedigree with the BioShock series suggests the team is well-equipped to deliver an immersive, narrative-driven experience anchored in historical atmosphere and distinctive world-building.