Black Sand

Black Sand was an ambitious indie developed, top down tactical shooter set in a gritty near future warzone. Players would have assumed the role of an elite special operations unit deployed to a lawless desert region scarred by corporate conflict, insurgent forces, and rogue military experiments. Blending real time tactics with survival elements, Black Sand emphasized strategic positioning, limited resources, and permadeath mechanics for squad members.

The game featured dynamic weather, day/night cycles, and a minimalist aesthetic punctuated by brutal combat and haunting ambient design. Despite gaining early traction for its unique atmosphere and tactical depth, Black Sand was ultimately canceled during pre alpha development due to funding issues and scope challenges.

Vulpine Sound was tapped to compose the original score for Black Sand, crafting a soundscape that matched the game’s bleak desert setting and tense tactical gameplay. Blending distorted analog synths, deep tribal percussion, and ambient textures soaked in reverb, the score was designed to evoke the isolation, paranoia, and quiet dread of warfare in a forgotten land.

The music responded dynamically to gameplay subtle drones intensified during stealth, while heavy, distorted pulses kicked in during combat encounters. Vulpine Sound leaned into the game’s minimalist visuals and harsh environment, using silence and sparse motifs as tools to heighten tension rather than overwhelm it. Influenced by composers like Hildur Guðnadóttir and Trent Reznor, the score aimed to be as much psychological as musical, immersing players in a world where every sound could mean survival or death.

Though the game was ultimately canceled, Vulpine Sound’s unfinished soundtrack remains a haunting reminder of what Black Sand could have been.