For Barcelona-based Gatera Studio, their debut title ANTRO is more than just a game, it’s a statement. Set in a dystopian future where humanity has been forced underground, ANTRO combines 2.5D platforming, parkour mechanics and puzzle-solving, all tightly synchronized to a pulsating urban soundtrack. The game follows Nittch, a courier rebelling against La Cúpula, a totalitarian government that censors art, music and freedom of speech. With hip-hop, drill, R&B and electronic beats shaping the experience, ANTRO aims to be a groundbreaking fusion of music and gameplay.
Gatera Studio’s origins are as grassroots as the themes of their game. As Rodrigo de Pedro, programmer at Gatera Studio, explains, their goal was to bring urban underground culture to gaming. “We have always felt that the urban, underground culture is often underrepresented in the video game industry,” de Pedro shares. “We wanted to make a game that would have at its forefront this unique and awesome style, which led us to bet on rap music, graffiti-like visuals and a storyline that a young, street-wise audience could resonate with.”
The project began in 2020, shortly after the team graduated from university. What started as a passion project quickly turned into a full-fledged game and after years of development, ANTRO is set for release later this year.
One of ANTRO’s defining features is its music-driven gameplay. Unlike most games where the soundtrack enhances the experience, in ANTRO it dictates the flow of gameplay. “One of our main goals with the game was to make the player really feel the power of music, not only to elevate the gameplay but to be a core part of it,” de Pedro explains. “We designed a system that could, from a music file, generate levels where player inputs and visual effects would always play in synchrony with the music.” This decision transforms ANTRO into an interactive music video experience, where every move, jump and action aligns with the beat.
The Perfect Soundtrack
Music is more than a background element—it’s the soul of ANTRO. Gatera Studio brought in Martí Valverde, a composer specializing in film scores and urban genres, to craft the game’s sonic identity. “Instead of creating the game levels first and then composing the music, we created the songs first, then designed the levels around them,” de Pedro reveals. The result? A genre-blending soundtrack mixing hip-hop, trap, techno, drum and bass and ambient music, creating an immersive, high-energy experience.
Beyond its rhythmic gameplay, ANTRO boasts a distinctive visual style. Inspired by Playdead’s Inside, Gatera Studio added an urban twist, creating a dark, claustrophobic world that reinforces the oppression of La Cúpula’s rule. “We wanted to create an atmosphere that reinforces the oppressiveness of the game’s world,” says de Pedro.
Keep it simple, stupid!
As a first-time studio, Gatera faced significant hurdles. “We lacked an experienced developer on the team, so we improved many of our processes through trial and error,” de Pedro admits. “We suffered from chaotic meetings, beginner mistakes, over-scoping, lack of funding… you name it.”
Despite these challenges, the team adapted and learned valuable lessons along the way. “Keep it simple, stupid! (KISS),” de Pedro advises. “It’s easy, especially in the early years of this career, to have grand ideas for games. However, soon you realize everything is several times harder to make than you estimated.” His advice to aspiring developers? “Create a barebones prototype of your game, only with the most essential features for it to work. For each week you need to create the prototype, you will need a year to finish the whole game.”
A possible second
For most of its development, ANTRO was a passion project with an extremely limited budget. However, Gatera Studio secured a government grant in later stages, providing much-needed financial relief. With launch day approaching, the studio is working closely with publisher Selecta Play to bring ANTRO to PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Their marketing strategy includes collaborations with influencers and music artists, as well as attending gaming and music events to showcase the game.
While ANTRO remains their primary focus, the team at Gatera Studio is already brainstorming ideas for a second project. “Back in 2020, we were a group of friends freshly out of college,” de Pedro reflects. “We are based in Barcelona, Spain. At the moment, our company has five employees, with a close-knit group of freelance collaborators which have been essential in the development of the game. ANTRO is our first and, at the moment, only game, although we are in the early stages of a possible second!”
ANTRO will release later this year on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Play the demo now on Steam.