Since being revealed during last year's Xbox Games Showcase, Clockwork Revolution has caught the attention of gamers with its interesting combat mechanics and steampunk aesthetic. Set in the fictional city of Avalon, Clockwork Revolution's premise hinges on the concept of time, with the protagonist using a device to travel to the past in order to alter history as an act of rebellion against the city's leaders.
There's still a lot of mystery surrounding Clockwork Revolution, including the protagonist's name, unless the game will allow players to create a custom character. But developer InXile Entertainment is making sure to update fans on Clockwork Revolution's progress and features via social media—even if it's just an image of bread.
What's Up With Clockwork Revolution's Bread?
The discussion about Clockwork Revolution's bread began last Leap Day when InXile Entertainment tweeted, "It’s Leap Day. This day does not exist. There are no laws." One fan replied, asking the developer to show updates on Clockwork Revolution. InXile obliged and sent a very detailed image of bread without any context.
Many gamers found InXile's tweet funny, which they said had notes of STALKER 2's bread teaser back in 2020. Some also pointed out that the texture quality of Clockwork Revolution's bread looked similar to the bread in Starfield. Meanwhile, gamers think this is InXile's way of leaving breadcrumbs for fans who have been looking for clues and updates about Clockwork Revolution. Some have also speculated that the image looks like a zoomed-in breadcrumb or the top view of a muffin.
There's limited Clockwork Revolution information out so far, with players only knowing bits of the main premise, gameplay, and how choices will matter in this narrative-driven FPS. It's understandable why many players would be interested in what InXile has planned for Clockwork Revolution, which is why they believe that the developer is leaving breadcrumbs for them to fill in the blanks.
Clockwork Revolution's bread might be a consumable item, as food items in video games are almost always used for healing or an ingredient for cooking. InXile might even go a different direction and make bread a collectible, just like how players collect coffee thermoses in Alan Wake. The bread could also decorate certain spots within Clockwork Revolution's world.
How Clockwork Revolution's Bread Could Be Used in a Plot
Although the Clockwork Revolution's bread has become a meme of sorts, it could also be used as a political symbol in the game. It's no secret that Clockwork Revolution has heavy political themes, with the protagonist going up against a tyrannical ruler named Lady Ironwood.
In the trailer, Ironwood talks about how a "rebellious little gear" could ruin all that she's built in Avalon, pledging that she will destroy anyone who tries to meddle with the past, present, and future. This is quite similar to the authoritarian themes tackled in the BioShock franchise, which is a franchise that Clockwork Revolution was also compared to.
In the real world and in fictional stories, bread is often used to portray oppression. It's a vital food staple that people can find anywhere, and they stock their homes with it. In many stories, tyrannical rulers often make food inaccessible to people, including bread.
Perhaps the bread in Clockwork Revolution would have the same symbolism, especially since it's been shown that the protagonist and probably the people of Avalon want to oust Lady Ironwood. The protagonist could fight to bring bread and other food items to the oppressed, which could be a sign of winning against the authoritarian government. Plus, the choice-driven mechanic could also blur the lines of good and evil in Clockwork Revolution.
Clockwork Revolution is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.