AAA games have been alluring gamers for a long time with their breathtaking visuals, top-notch cinematic angles, and fast-paced combat. While Eastern developers like Game Science continuously deliver bangers, fans from India Subcontinent (South Asia have a prolonged wish for a AAA game that depicts their culture, historical figures, or mythology.
The long-awaited wish has been answered, and you don’t need to anticipate any more, as Ayelet Studio, an Indie studio from Tamil Nadu, India, is bringing a standalone cinematic action-adventure game titled “Son of Thanjai”.
India’s first-ever AAA game, announced at a global level. What else do you need on a late night with your favourite cup-noodles? As a gamer of Indian ethnicity, this means a lot to me and will be engraved in my heart for years!
Without further ado, let’s unveil the release date, price, and other exciting factors regarding Son of Thanjai.
Son of Thanjai: Release Date, Price and More
Ayelet Studio’s Son of Thanjai was announced on August 20, 2025, at the Future Games Show. The upcoming historical game was soon announced at the official blog post, with a teaser trailer revealed by PlayStation on YouTube.
Right off the bat, as the game is still in a development phase, there’s no sign of an official announcement regarding an initial release date. However, according to reputed analysts and critics, the game will be released in December 2026, marking it as the opening act for the upcoming games in the winter season.
For those who don’t know, Son of Thanjai is a rebranding of the previous title, “Unsung Heroes: The Cholas II, featuring the legends of “Raja Rajendra Chola”.
Still, it’s just an Indian Studio that will focus more on visuals than gameplay. I know this thought will come to every AAA gamer’s mind. But let me clarify one thing for you, Ayelet Studio won’t possibly mess this up with a whopping budget of $2 million.
Regarding price and pre-order registration, officials have yet to reveal more information. Meanwhile, fans can wishlist the game on several platforms alongside the official website.
According to the speculations, it is believed that “Son of Thanjai” will be listed at $38-$39.99, depending on the platform you will be buying the game from. Fandom will be able to play this game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5, and XBox series X/S.
Son of Thanjai : Who will Rule Our Screens?
With an awe-inspiring tagline, “A Blade that Bends, A Will that does Not,” the game will take you to 11th-century South India. Expected to be a third-person perspective game, it will offer players to step into the life of a Young King, “Rajendra Chola.”
Unveil one of the most prominent, the Chola Dynasty, which conquered and ruled the lands of South India, along with Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Srivijaya (now Malaysia and Indonesia). From several festivals, the temple celebrations, and the bustling marketplace, the game will invite you to immerse yourself in Chola literature, music, art, and diplomatic relations with other kingdoms.
Set during one of the most powerful yet overlooked kingdoms, Raja Rajendra Chola revisits his hometown, Thanjavur, after conquering the lands of Srivijaya.
Filled with envy, a sense of bloodshed, and a thirst to obtain the legendary throne, players will need to carve their way out as Rajendra Chola and protect the legacy at any cost.
The combat mechanics are not just fun, but an epitome of judgment and conservation. Rooted deep into the martial arts of South India, Son of Thanjai will present surulvaal, a whip-like sword, and other ancient weapons.
(Do comment on the good stuff if you think I am a good history teacher. Till another lecture, let’s visit some expectations and speculations from fans around the globe).
Son of Thanjai : Will Ayelet Studio Meet Fadom Expectations?
Being a standalone cinematic action-adventure game, fans will expect way more if you promise them a narrative of a legendary historical figure or a mythology everyone dreams of living in a sandbox.
While a huge bunch of fans are appreciating Ayelet Studio for upholding their roots, many fans from the Reddit hall of fame are criticising the game for having PS3 game animations in an era of games like Black Myth: Wukong.
I, too, doubted the production house at first, but after seeing their budget and a promising teaser, I will be holding my trust on a brink.
Several fans are expecting the game to be more immersive due to cultural influence. The criticisms are just the two sides of a coin; users from r/Games on Reddit criticize the teaser for having stiff animations without gameplay, but compliment the studio’s efforts for bringing an open-world historical game from the Indian era of impenetrable kingdoms.
Likewise, the speculations suggest that Ayelet Studio must deliver a phenomenal gameplay trailer to impress players beyond aesthetics.
Neither a speculation nor an anticipation, but it’s a nightmare concern for many Indian gamers.
Till now, many productions have been announced, ambitiously with eye-pleasing cutouts and teasers, but were never fully delivered, and history might repeat itself. That’s the sole reason why Indian gamers are not anticipating this game to the fullest, but really want Ayelet Studio to prove them wrong!
Wrapping Up
Games are made not just for profit but mainly for players’ satisfaction and admiration. If produced, really as a mainstream project, then Son of Thanjai might become the pillar of upcoming and aspiring action-adventure games aspired in India.