News Roundup: Studio Agate on 7th Sea's Future + Critical Role

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This week, we have an interview with a lead designer from the France-based Studio Agate about their plans for 7th Sea’s third edition. We also have news from Critical Role-land plus the adaptation of an iconic cyberpunk anime into a TTRPG.

French Game Developer Studio Agate to Lead the Way with 7th Sea’s Third Edition Update

We’ve an extra interview for you this week with Nel, the studio director and creative director at Studio Agate. That name should feel familiar as they’re taking over the swashbuckling-focused TTRPG 7th Sea’s development from Chaosium, which they announced earlier this summer. They’re the ones overseeing the development of the third edition of the game and just finished shipping THE PRICE OF ARROGANCE, the first full campaign for the game. But what will the third edition entail, and what should fans expect?

Thanks to Studio Agate for their willingness to chat with me!

TTRPG Insider: What's the story behind Agate's relationship with Chaosium? What will that relationship look like now?

Our collaboration with Chaosium began when they took over 7th Sea, as Studio Agate has been handling the French localization of the game since 2017.

For several years, we worked as Chaosium’s partner for the French market. They encouraged us to create original material, which led to The Price of Arrogance campaign.

Since this summer, Chaosium has officially entrusted us with the full development of the 7th Sea line.

So, our relationship has evolved from a localization partner to a full-fledged development studio working closely with Chaosium. It’s now our responsibility to imagine and build the next chapter of the 7th Sea saga, a huge honor, and a big responsibility!

This is of course a much deeper level of engagement for our studio: we’re not just translating into French anymore; we’re developing in both English and French, while coordinating with all the other international publishing partners.

TTRPG Insider: What should fans expect to see change in light of the new partnership? Are we talking new stories? New content?

The 7th Sea community can absolutely expect new content and new stories! We’ve decided to work very closely with the 7th Sea community through regular surveys and an open-access Patreon where everyone can follow our development journal and share feedback.

Our goal is to co-create this new chapter with the community. The first surveys have already revealed a clear direction: people want a Third Edition. One that continues the world of the 2nd Edition—no reboot—but expands and deepens it, with a new game system. Many players have also expressed nostalgia for the Roll & Keep system, while recognizing some strengths of the 2E mechanics. So our goal is to imagine a modern system inspired by Roll & Keep, blending the best of both worlds. We are also drawing some key elements from The Price of Arrogance, which introduced modular “Paths” that let GMs shape the tone and style of their campaigns, something we want to build upon in this new edition.

TTRPG Insider: What do you enjoy most about 7th Sea as a setting?

Well, like many fans, what we love most about 7th Sea is its unique atmosphere —rich, detailed, yet vivid and easy to imagine. It captures the essence of classic swashbuckling adventures: duels, intrigue, romance, exploration, and larger-than-life heroes!

The way it reimagines cultures and history with that signature mix of flair and fantasy makes the setting truly inspiring. It’s fun, dramatic, and full of heart. Really a unique and classic TTRPG.

TTRPG Insider: What's the story with the upcoming Kickstarter? Is it a new set of rules, or just more stories and expansions of the universe?

The next 7th Sea Kickstarter will mark the beginning of the Third Edition. We’ll launch it once we’ve gathered enough feedback from the community and refined the design direction. But things are moving fast, and early 2026 seems like a realistic goal. This remains to be confirmed, but we will be able to say more in the coming weeks.

This new campaign will introduce a brand-new Core Rulebook, along with additional adventures. Fans have made it clear that they want more ready-to-play stories, so we’re planning to include that right from the start.

In terms of content, our goal is not to reboot 7th Sea but to build upon the 2nd Edition lore and bring back the depth and richness of the 1st. The timeline will move forward by about ten years, creating room for new conflicts, alliances, and heroes. The world itself will feel more connected: nations and continents will influence each other more directly, offering GMs and players a stronger sense of continuity.

At the same time, we’re redesigning the system to reflect what the community has been asking for: a modern, dynamic take on the classic Roll & Keep mechanics. The goal is to bring back the tension and excitement of the dice while keeping the narrative flow and flexibility of modern game systems.

Expect faster, more engaging duels, a clearer progression system, and mechanics that make every roll feel meaningful. We also want to give GMs more concrete tools to bring Theah to life at the table : factions, noble families, ready-to-use NPCs, maps, and lots of story hooks.

In short, this new edition will stay true to the swashbuckling spirit of 7th Sea: full of adventure, romance, and intrigue but with a sharper, more cohesive design for today’s players.

TTRPG Insider: What is next for 7th Sea? What else should we watch for going forward into 2025?

Next up are more community surveys on Patreon to fine-tune our direction. The creative team, writers, designers, and artists, has already started working on early materials. After that, the next major step will be the Kickstarter launch in early 2026. This date has not yet been confirmed, but it sounds like a good option.

We also plan to have something concrete to share with the community at Gen Con 2026, a milestone we are already working toward with great excitement!

Mighty Nein Trailers, Weddings and Darringtons Come to New York

In case you can’t get enough Critical Role content, this week was another big news week with New York Comic Con unveiling more details about The Mighty Nein, CR’s upcoming show telling the tale of its second campaign. It looks pretty hype, if I can be honest.

Fjord and Jester (aka the already-married Travis Willingham and Laura Bailey) of the Mighty Nein also got married at a live show in NYC this week, although the recording has yet to be released as of October 11, 2025. But it looks adorable from all the social media posts. The one-shot will be broadcast in movie theatres via Fathom Events on Oct. 15, so check your local cinema.

We also learned that the show is recasting Taryon Darrington (the artificer played by Sam Riegel after his bard departed) with Wayne Brady, which was not expected. It’s unclear why Riegel agreed to a recasting, but it will help to differentiate Darrington from Riegel for non-fans, I’m sure.

Iconic Anime Ghost in the Shell Gets TTRPG Adaptation

If you’re a fan of cyberpunk games, then you likely know Ghost in the Shell, an iconic Japanese franchise that has received multiple spinoffs and adaptations over the years. The story tells the tale of counter-terrorist agent Motoko Kusanagi as she hunts down rogue AI.

Now we’re getting a TTRPG built around the property that will be developed by Mana Project Studio (best known for its own take on a Cowboy Bebop.) The quickstart is currently out and it appears to be built around the Forged in the Dark ruleset (made by Evil Hat and John Harper.) Players will explore the setting, operate as members of Public Security Section 9 and handle various threats in Newport City.

The campaign is crowdfunding on November 4, 2025.

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