Team ICO is perhaps one of the most artistic video game studios on Earth. Not many titles have come out in this industry that combine gameplay that rises to perfection, with a beautiful visual art style. But somehow Team ICO has done it…twice.. Sure, the team only released two games, however, they were both unforgettable titles.

Many consider 2001’s ICO the first video game that could be a true work of art, where even the biggest critic of the gaming industry could appreciate the masterpiece. The same was said about ICO’s spiritual successor Shadow of Colossus, when it was finally released in 2005.

A long time ago, a single picture rose out of nowhere claiming to be the first screenshot of Team ICO’s next project. The image was nothing more than a large chain hanging down a old stone well. Since that time, we heard nothing. Over the next few months (even years), fans of both titles were hoping the development team would release something and soon. But nothing had ever appeared.

Today, could be the day many of us have been waiting for. According to the site playstationlifestyle, they have the first ever trailer for Team ICO’s next game, and it’s called Trico. While I can’t confirm that it is real, I’m 99% sure it is.

The trailer reminds me more of Ico than Shadow of Colossus. Because of that, it makes me believe that this trailer is indeed real. Back in March, the lead designer Fumito Ueda, talked about the next game. “[The next game] might be something similar to what’s been done. … The essence of the game is rather close to ‘Ico.’”
The site is claiming that this video was made when it was still in the very early developmental process, and they expect that it even looks better now. Some of you will criticizes the video for being nothing more than pre-rendered crap. If you do think that, I believe you are wrong. After playing with Team ICO’s previous games, I think they are more than capable of delivering visuals like the video above.

If everything ends up being real and not pre-rendered — I do expect the game to look even better when the final product is finished.