Son of Thanjai
Open-world Chola Empire action-adventure, spring 2027
- PS5
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC
Release date
Date not announced
The story so far
What we know about Son of Thanjai
Son of Thanjai is an open-world action-adventure from Ayelet Studio, a roughly 30-person team based in Chennai, India. It is set in an alternate-history version of the 11th-century Chola Empire. The Steam page follows Vinnendhiran, an exiled prince who is outnumbered and alone and who must take an empire apart from the inside with deception, fear and the Surul Vaal, a flexible steel whip.
Combat is built around the Surul Vaal alongside the Aruvaal and Valari weapons, with a style inspired by the martial art Kalaripayattu. The developer stresses stealth and manipulation over magic: information has to be earned, and guards are described as reactive, noticing suspicious behaviour and environmental cues. The world covers temple towns, markets and frontier regions, and mounted travel on horses, elephants and bulls has been shown.
No exact release date has been announced. The game is targeting spring 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, and Gematsu reports it will also come to Game Pass. A gameplay trailer was released in June 2026 and a further trailer followed ahead of Gamescom 2026.
What to expect from Son of Thanjai
Based on what the developer and publisher have shown so far.
- 01
A Chola Empire setting
The game is set in an alternate-history 11th-century South India, with temple towns, markets and frontier regions, and cultural details such as Therukoothu performances and traditional crafts.
- 02
Whip-sword combat
The Surul Vaal is a flexible steel whip, used with the Aruvaal and Valari in close-quarters fighting inspired by Kalaripayattu.
- 03
Stealth over magic
According to the developer, information has to be earned and guards react to suspicious behaviour, so infiltration and manipulation sit alongside open combat.
- 04
Mounted travel
Horses, elephants and bulls have been shown as mounts for moving through the open world.
See it for yourself
Confirmed. Unconfirmed. Clear.
A quick way to separate official information from speculation.
Confirmed
- Developed and published by Ayelet Studio for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The Steam page is listed as coming soon.Steam (Ayelet Studio)
- Open-world action-adventure starring exiled prince Vinnendhiran in an alternate-history 11th-century Chola Empire.Steam (Ayelet Studio)
- Combat uses the Surul Vaal flexible whip, plus the Aruvaal and Valari, with stealth and manipulation systems and reactive guard AI.Steam (Ayelet Studio)
- Eight languages are listed, including English, Tamil, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Simplified Chinese. The PC minimum is Windows 11, Intel i5, 16 GB RAM, an RTX 20-series GPU and 50 GB of storage.Steam (Ayelet Studio)
- Release window: spring 2027, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam and Microsoft Store), and also on Game Pass.Gematsu
- A gameplay trailer arrived on 6 June 2026. The game is built on Kalaripayattu-inspired combat in regions based on the Tamil Tinai system, with stealth and intelligence-gathering mechanics.Xbox Wire
Not confirmed
Exact release date
Only a spring 2027 window has been given. No day or month has been announced.
Price
No price or edition information is listed on the Steam page yet.
Demo
No playable demo has been announced on the official page.
Multiplayer
Everything shown points to a single-player game, but multiplayer or co-op has not been addressed officially.
Rumours are labelled and linked to their source.
Timeline
The road to release, from announcement to launch.
Waiting for Son of Thanjai? Play these
Our best guesses until it is out, picked for the same kind of experience.
Ghost of Tsushima
Historical open-world action-adventure with sword combat and a strong sense of place.
Assassin's Creed Origins
Open-world action-adventure set in an ancient empire, mixing stealth, combat and exploration.
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Stealth and combat in a richly researched historical setting, built around infiltration.
Ghost of Yotei
Another open-world samurai-era adventure with melee duels and a protagonist on a personal mission.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people search for most.
When is Son of Thanjai released?
No exact date has been announced. The game is targeting spring 2027.
Which platforms is Son of Thanjai coming to?
PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC are announced. Gematsu reports that it will also be available on Game Pass.
Who is making Son of Thanjai?
Ayelet Studio, a small team of around 30 people based in Chennai, India, develops and publishes the game.
What is Son of Thanjai about?
You play Vinnendhiran, an exiled prince in an alternate-history 11th-century Chola Empire, taking an empire apart from the inside with stealth, deception and a whip-sword called the Surul Vaal.
Is there a demo?
No demo has been announced on the official Steam page.