Game concepts can come from the unlikeliest of sources, and Inkle’s next release (pictured left) definitely has a unique origin. “It’s something I’ve been prototyping and vaguely thinking about for around four years,” studio co-founder Joseph Humfrey tells us. “My mum gave me a book about bothies – these shelters that you get in the Highlands – and she said, ‘Oh, maybe you could make a game about Scotland?’ Because I grew up in Scotland.” His first instinct was to roll his eyes. “I thought, ‘Oh god, mum, don’t start trying to give me game ideas.’ And then it was like, ‘Hang on a minute…’”

Humfrey and fellow co-founder Jon Ingold aren’t saying what the game’s called yet – both refer to it as “Untitled Highland Game” and “Highland Run” – but they assure us they do already have a name in mind. Ingold admits they’re still figuring out “the right order to explain it in”, having decided to be more open about the game’s development. What prompted this change of approach? It’s partly about visibility, Humfrey explains: in an increasingly competitive market, it seems you now need to create awareness over time. He concedes it’s not been a natural process for Inkle. “Previously the best advice in the industry – and what’s suited us in the past – has been to secretly work on a thing and only announce when you’re absolutely sure you’ve got something ready to show. Because you don’t really want to show it in its rough state.” But there’s now a theory, he says, that in an age where we’re constantly bombarded with information, people only become truly consciously aware of the existence of something when they’ve seen it several times. “But it’s also a joy to be able to talk about it, because it’s also difficult when you’re in secret mode to contain your excitement.” Hence, presumably, Edge getting the scoop on the game when we spoke to Inkle for E342’s Studio Profile.