If the world of gaming comes to mind, Colombia perhaps doesn’t necessarily first and foremost come to mind—until now. Astor: Blade of the Monolith is changing that. It’s not another action-RPG adventure; it’s what happens when grit, imagination, and Latin heart meet. And behind it all is the little but fierce crew of C2 Game Studio.
In contrast to established markets, C2 did not enjoy a rich talent pool of local veterans to draw from. In Colombia, game development was still an emerging frontier, and that meant that hiring was more a matter of seeing passion and potential than marking off industry experience.
It was a risk—and one that was worth taking. The team persevered, learned, and evolved through the upheaval of indie development, driven by drive and shared vision.
Astor doesn’t hit you over the head with Colombian iconography, but cultural flavor is present if you know where to find it. Consider Crystal Haven, for example—an in-game hangout that’s just a bit like a Latin American town in its vibrancy, charm, and sense of place. The developers even joked about stashing some arepas in the game—an idea that could very well live on in a sequel.
Getting Astor off the ground wasn’t simple. But it all clicked when the combat system finally felt correct. Months of tweaking and testing, and finally, the pieces fell into place—and the team knew they had something incredible. That “click” moment is what every dev lives for, and it was worth the long hours and lost sleep.
What is most remarkable about C2 is just how much they listened. Feedback—be it from publishers, players, or anyone in between—was instrumental in finalizing the product.
Be it streamlining props that baffled players or tweaking technical options such as depth of field and camera behavior, the studio approached criticism as a tool and not a barrier. That willingness to listen and refine served Astor with the shine it deserved.
But more than the game itself, Astor signifies something larger. It’s a light for Colombia’s fledgling game-making industry and a call to action for other developers throughout Latin America. If one team without industry influence can accomplish this, what is the potential when the lights finally shine on the region?
Their message to budding devs? Dream big, but start small. Master the basics, have a team that supports one another, and do not underestimate the value of mental well-being. Indie game development is far from a walk in the park, but it is possible with dedication and heart.
In the meantime, C2 Game Studio is committed to Astor, but new plans are already in the works. Whether they go back to the world they’ve created or branch off into something new and completely different, one thing’s for certain: they’re just beginning.