Microsoft Files Trademark for Ascend: Hand of Kul, Possibly Signal Studios’ Next Game

Remember Ascend: New Gods? Not too many people do. Signal Studios, or better known as those who brought you the Toy Soldiers franchise on Xbox Live, introduced the action title to the world during Microsoft’s 2012 E3 press conference. The game has been slated for a 2013 launch date, but little has been seen of the title, which will allow players to “wage war for your God as a brutal Caos warrior on a unique journey to Ascension,” since last year. However, a new trademark filed by the Xbox maker may be a sign that the game has taken on a new moniker.

Late last month, Microsoft abandoned the trademark for the original title of “Ascend: New Gods.” That’s an odd move for a downloadable game supposedly not too far off from release, but on May 2, a member of NeoGaf discoverd that the company went ahead and trademarked "Ascend: Hand of Kul.” The filing was posted today on USPTO's webpage, and while it can’t exactly be confirmed that this is the new title of the game, it would be odd to trademark two projects with “Ascend” right in the name.

The multiplayer-focused, turn-based strategy game was expected to make its way to XBLA, PC, and Windows Phone, but with this new development, it’s possible that the project is getting a facelift in order to make its second debut on the Durango – which will be revealed during a televised event later this month. This could still be a whole new project unrelated to Signal, but expect to hear more May 21.