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SteamWorld

SteamWorld is a video game franchise developed by the Swedish studio , featuring the adventures of steam-powered robots called Steambots in a steampunk-inspired, post-apocalyptic world abandoned by humans. The series emphasizes exploration, , and themes, with Steambots using steam technology to navigate harsh environments and uncover lost secrets. Launched in 2010, the franchise began as a side project for the then-work-for-hire developer , which transitioned to original creation after years of educational and licensed games. The studio, founded in 1997 in , merged with Games to form in 2018, allowing continued expansion of the SteamWorld universe across multiple platforms including systems, PC, and . In September 2025, acquired an 81.7% controlling stake in . What sets SteamWorld apart is its experimental approach to genres, avoiding sequels in the same style to build a versatile brand around its core aesthetic of rusty, Victorian-era machinery fused with robotic characters. The flagship title, (2013), introduced a 2D with mining mechanics inspired by games, where players dig through procedurally generated caves as a lone Steambot seeking fortune. Its sequel, (2017), expanded on these elements with deeper exploration and upgrades, earning critical acclaim for its tight controls and atmospheric world-building. Subsequent entries diversified further: (2010) kicked off the series with a game defending against insectoid invaders; SteamWorld Heist (2015) blended with side-scrolling shooting in a spacefaring adventure; SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech (2019) adopted a card-based format for party-led quests; (2023) combined city-building simulation with dungeon crawling in a resource-scarce frontier town; and SteamWorld Heist II (2024) continued the tactical heist gameplay with enhanced plotting and plundering mechanics. The franchise has received praise for its hand-drawn art, humorous narratives, and accessible yet challenging gameplay, establishing as a key player in indie gaming.

Franchise overview

Setting and universe

The SteamWorld universe is a post-apocalyptic setting in which steam-powered robots known as Steambots inhabit a world devastated by catastrophe, following the collapse of due to resource exploitation and societal decay. Originally constructed by humans in the late 18th and early 19th centuries—drawing inspiration from Charles Babbage's —these robots were designed as servants to assist in labor-intensive tasks like . As humans devolved into a degenerate state referred to as "Shiners," becoming increasingly lazy and parasitic, Steambots assumed greater autonomy, establishing their own settlements and defending vital resources such as gold and minerals from Shiners' incursions. Following the ultimate destruction of , Steambots evolved into independent societies, migrating to and colonizing new worlds where they rebuilt civilization amid ongoing challenges like mechanical degradation and scarcity. This migration marked a pivotal shift, with diverse factions emerging, including Royalists, Dieselbots, and pirate crews, each adapting steam technology to survive in harsh, alien environments. The emphasizes themes of and , as Steambots repurpose parts for —creating "Steambabies" through blueprints and parental components—and confront existential threats like the enigmatic Vectron forces that symbolize broader decay. The franchise adopts an anthology structure, wherein games share this interconnected but present standalone narratives across different and genres, linked by recurring motifs of and rather than direct continuity. Locations like the mining town of El Machino on pre-collapse exemplify early Steambot communities, while later stories unfold in spacefaring outposts, highlighting the universe's expansive scope without rigid plot dependencies. Visually, the SteamWorld universe blends Victorian-era aesthetics with elements and sci-fi undertones, featuring rusted machinery, hissing engines, and vast arid landscapes dotted with relics. This style underscores the gritty, resource-starved atmosphere, where every gear and pipe evokes a sense of mechanical heritage amid desolation, creating an immersive backdrop for the Steambots' endeavors.

Core themes and art style

The SteamWorld series recurrently explores themes of and in a post-human world dominated by steam-powered robots known as Steambots, often delving into the consequences of and unchecked industrialization. In games like , players must construct mining towns on a dying planet to unearth ancient technology for escape, symbolizing the fallout from resource exploitation and the drive for renewal amid . This narrative motif underscores the tension between technological progress and ecological ruin, as Steambots navigate barren landscapes shaped by prior human excesses. The franchise's art style is characterized by hand-drawn 2D visuals that evoke a vibrant aesthetic, blending intricate mechanical details with expressive animations to bring the mechanical world to life. Rather than relying solely on traditional , titles like employ computer-generated images styled as animated drawings, creating fluid movements that highlight steam mechanics such as piston-driven limbs and vapor emissions. This approach uses warm, metallic palettes of , , and earthy tones to convey a sense of aged , with variations tailored to —side-scrolling in the Dig series contrasts with top-down tactical views in . Musical contributions from composer El Huervo, particularly in , feature atmospheric and personal harmonies that immerse players in the series' melancholic yet adventurous tone. Drawing from El Huervo's synth-driven background in , the soundtracks incorporate layered electronic elements with organic instrumentation like guitar and bass, evoking the rhythmic clank of machinery and the vastness of desolate frontiers. These scores enhance thematic depth by mirroring the isolation and ingenuity of Steambots, with motifs that evolve from tense industrial pulses to hopeful acoustic swells. As an , SteamWorld reinterprets its foundational concepts of mechanical existence and societal across diverse genres, allowing each installment to probe core ideas from unique angles. For instance, in represents collective survival strategies, while the personal excavation in symbolizes individual quests for heritage and purpose. This genre-shifting philosophy, as articulated by developer , fosters innovation over repetition, ensuring the Steambot universe remains a versatile canvas for exploring tradition versus progress without confining the narrative to a single format.

Development history

Image & Form origins

was founded in 1997 by Brjánn Sigurgeirsson in , , initially operating as a media consultancy firm specializing in and multimedia production. The studio began full-time game development in 2002, primarily engaging in work-for-hire projects such as edutainment titles for the market, which involved creating around 25-30 children's games for PC and Mac platforms. By 2009, facing creative burnout from repetitive contract work, the team pivoted to independent development of original mobile games, marking a shift toward on emerging digital platforms. The SteamWorld series originated from Sigurgeirsson's fascination with aesthetics and genres, envisioning a world of steam-powered robots navigating frontier-like environments. This concept debuted with , released in July 2010 on DSiWare, where players defended against human invaders using robotic units in underground mines. The game's success on the limited DSi platform, despite a crowded mobile market, validated the SteamWorld universe and encouraged further exploration of its . Early development faced significant challenges as an independent studio operating on tight budgets, often relying on personal loans to sustain projects amid financial shortfalls—for instance, the team exhausted funds during 's production in early 2013. Initially focused on mobile and handheld platforms like DSi, the studio struggled with and visibility without major publisher support. The 2013 release of on eShop represented a pivotal shift to consoles, bolstered by the game's critical acclaim and effective use of visuals, which helped recoup investments and expand reach beyond mobile limitations. Key milestones in this period included hiring core team members to grow from a small group of four during Tower Defense to a more robust unit capable of handling complex projects. This expansion enabled the establishment of an anthology model for the SteamWorld series, allowing experimentation across genres—such as tower defense to action-platforming—while preserving a cohesive universe of steam-driven robots and shared backstory, fostering creative flexibility without diluting the franchise's identity.

Expansion under Thunderful

In December 2019, was formed through a merger between the existing Thunderful entity—originally established in 2018 as a parent company for and Games—and Bergsala Holding's distribution businesses, creating a larger entity with expanded resources for game development and . This restructuring integrated more deeply into the group's operations, providing access to broader distribution networks and financial backing previously unavailable during its independent era. By 2020, was fully merged with Zoink Games and the acquired Guru Games to establish Thunderful Development AB, a dedicated internal studio focused on creating and porting titles across multiple platforms including PC, , , and . This consolidation enhanced the SteamWorld series' reach, facilitating simultaneous multi-platform launches and improved production values for subsequent entries. For instance, , a city-building and dungeon-crawling hybrid developed by Thunderful's The Station studio, launched in December 2023 with day-one availability on major consoles and PC services like . Similarly, SteamWorld Heist II, handled internally by Thunderful Development, debuted in August 2024, incorporating expanded naval combat and elements while maintaining the series' signature . The group's growth also involved strategic acquisitions and partnerships, shifting toward a hybrid development model where internal teams collaborated with external studios for specialized components, such as and optimization efforts. This approach supported comprehensive multi-platform support for SteamWorld titles, including enhanced PC and console versions that leveraged Thunderful's infrastructure. In 2020, the company emphasized bundling efforts with the digital release of the SteamWorld Collection on platforms like , compiling early entries like and to attract new audiences and sustain the IP's momentum. Amid broader industry challenges, initiated a major in January 2024, resulting in approximately 20% workforce —around 100 positions—across its development and publishing arms to address over-investments and improve financial sustainability. A second followed in November 2024, leading to further layoffs of 80-100 positions. In 2025, announced another for of SEK 40-45 million annually, accompanied by a CEO transition and an acquisition by , which took an 82% stake in . Despite these setbacks, —and now —has reaffirmed SteamWorld as its flagship , with ongoing internal projects underscoring a commitment to the franchise's evolution, including potential new titles like 3.

Games

SteamWorld Tower Defense

SteamWorld Tower Defense is a video game developed and published by , marking the debut entry in the SteamWorld series. It was first released digitally on July 5, 2010, for the via the DSiWare service in , , and , with a subsequent port to the eShop on July 7, 2011. The game features a aesthetic blended with themes, centering on robotic "cowbots" in a setting. In the game's plot, players assume the role of a steambot tasked with defending the robotic inhabitants of —a remote on a frontier planet—from waves of human miners intent on plundering the region's deposits. This narrative establishes early elements of the SteamWorld , portraying steambots as a resilient mechanical society safeguarding their resources against organic threats. Gameplay revolves around strategic placement and management of defensive turrets to repel enemy advances along predefined paths, with the objective of preventing foes from reaching the end of each level. earn currency by defeating enemies, which is used to deploy five distinct turret types: basic sharpshooters for rapid fire, units for area , engineers for support and repair, chaplains that slow adversaries, and rangers requiring manual targeting for precision strikes. Each turret can be upgraded to enhance , , or abilities, adding layers of tactical decision-making amid escalating wave difficulty across 14 missions divided into seven maps. The touch-based controls on DSi facilitate quick unit placement and targeting, while an "" mode adjusts enemy health and speed for accessibility. The title innovated within the genre by integrating humorous dialogue and a distinctive visual style featuring steam-powered robots with motifs, setting a tonal foundation for the series' blend of whimsy and strategy. However, its design was constrained by the DSi's hardware limitations, resulting in brief levels and a lack of additional modes like leaderboards, which contributed to a aggregate score of 71/100 based on four critic reviews.

SteamWorld Dig

SteamWorld Dig, developed and published by , debuted as a digital title on the eShop, releasing on August 7, 2013, in and , and August 8, 2013, in . This marked the studio's first major console release, following prior mobile efforts, and it was later ported to PC via on December 5, 2013, and on March 18, 2014 (), on August 28, 2014, on June 5, 2015, and on February 1, 2018. In the game's narrative, players control Rusty, a lone Steambot prospector who inherits his late uncle's mine in the drought-stricken town of Tumbleton. Tasked with reviving the settlement by extracting scarce water from underground ruins, Rusty delves deeper into procedurally generated caves, battling insectoid enemies and uncovering artifacts that reveal family secrets and the town's heritage. The core gameplay revolves around Metroidvania-style adventure mechanics, where Rusty uses a arm to excavate dirt in side-scrolling environments, balancing resource gathering with navigation through hazardous tunnels. Upgrades purchased from collected enhance abilities like faster ing, steam jumps for vertical mobility, and for clearing obstacles, encouraging non-linear and risk-reward decisions in deeper, more dangerous excavations. Combat involves shooting enemies with a that doubles as a tool, adding layers to the fluid platforming and puzzle-solving. As the title that popularized the SteamWorld series, established the foundational digging loop for its sub-series, earning acclaim for precise controls and strong replayability through upgrade-driven progression and hidden secrets. It achieved commercial success, selling over one million units across platforms and enabling Image & Form's expansion into further franchise entries.

SteamWorld Heist

SteamWorld Heist is a video game developed and published by , marking the third entry in the SteamWorld series and the first to introduce strategic turn-based combat mechanics to the franchise. It launched initially on December 10, 2015, for the eShop, followed by ports to , , , and PC on June 7, 2016, and on December 28, 2017. The game's narrative centers on Captain Piper Faraday, a steambot and former member of the who now leads a crew of robotic pirates in daring heists across the galaxy's outskirts. After her unit is ambushed and she's branded a criminal, Piper assembles a ragtag team to plunder enemy vessels, primarily targeting the authoritarian and rival Scrappers mercenaries, in a story that weaves themes of , , and . Core gameplay unfolds in side-scrolling, 2D environments where players control a squad of up to four steambots during tactical shootouts, emphasizing manual aiming over random chance. Each turn allows positioning, shooting, and reloading, with bullets capable of ricocheting off walls, floors, and ceilings to strike multiple foes or access hard-to-reach targets, rewarding precise shot planning. Crew members belong to classes like , , or , each with unique weapons and abilities enhanced by equippable hats—such as the Top Hat for evasion boosts or the for critical hit chances—that players collect by shooting them off enemies. Missions are procedurally generated for variety, involving objectives like looting cargo or sabotaging ships, while between-heist management includes upgrading gear with scavenged cogwheels and water resources at a hub saloon. The title incorporates progression through persistent crew leveling and randomized mission layouts, which heighten replayability and risk, as failed objectives can lead to permanent losses or setbacks in resource gathering. Its soundtrack, composed by , features a blend of and western-jazz influences, with tracks like "Heist Ho!" integrating seamlessly to underscore the pirate theme and saloon downtime scenes.

SteamWorld Dig 2

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a side-scrolling platform mining adventure game developed and published by , serving as a direct sequel to . It launched in 2017 across multiple platforms, beginning with on September 21, PC via on September 22, and on September 26, followed by on November 21, 2018. The game builds on its predecessor's core formula of resource gathering and exploration but expands the scope with deeper narrative integration and refined mechanics, earning widespread acclaim for its Metroidvania-style progression. The story follows Dorothy McCrank, a steambot introduced in the original game as an NPC , who ventures into the underground depths near the frontier town of El Machino to locate her missing friend Rusty, the protagonist of . Set in a post-apocalyptic world where Earth is a barren desert inhabited by steam-powered robots and mutated humans, Dorothy's journey uncovers ancient secrets of a long-lost steambot while confronting threats from a and biomechanical horrors. Accompanied by a companion named Fen, the narrative bridges events between and , emphasizing themes of discovery and sacrifice through environmental storytelling and cutscenes. Gameplay centers on fluid digging and platforming, where players control Dorothy's multi-tool arm to excavate procedurally connected cave systems, collect ores and artifacts for upgrades, and battle enemies in real-time combat. Enhancements include smoother movement with steam-powered boosts for high-speed traversal and dynamic lighting that illuminates vast, interconnected underground biomes. New tools such as the grappling hook enable vertical exploration and shortcut creation across chasms, while the steam turret attachment provides automated ranged attacks against swarms of foes, encouraging strategic loadout choices via modular upgrades purchased in surface hubs. Secret areas house optional boss fights, like the biomechanical Rosie, rewarding players with cogs for further customization. Compared to the original, features a significantly longer campaign, spanning 8-10 hours for the main story with additional time for 100% completion through side caves and challenges. visuals receive upgrades with more detailed animations, vibrant color palettes for diverse environments like crystalline depths and fungal forests, and enhanced particle effects for digging debris. Environmental puzzles integrate mechanics, such as using pressure bombs to redirect flows or hookshots to manipulate platforms, adding layers of problem-solving to the loop. holds a average of 89/100 across platforms, praised for its tight controls, replayability, and seamless blend of mining simulation with adventure elements.

SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech

SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is a turn-based game developed by and published by Thunderful Publishing, marking the first entry in the SteamWorld series to adopt mechanics. It launched as a exclusive on April 25, 2019, before being ported to PC platforms including Windows, macOS, and via on May 31, 2019, as well as on March 3, 2020, on October 20, 2020, and on December 10, 2020. The game's narrative unfolds as a framed told by a character from to his son, set in a distant past within the series' universe. It follows three Steambot protagonists—Armilly, an aspiring knight and daughter of a vendor; Copernica, a scholarly witch; and Galleo, a timid inventor—who embark on a quest after their village is razed by mechanical minions under the command of the ancient necromancer Gilgamech. As they assemble a party of heroes, including later recruits like a and a , the group journeys through a hand-drawn, fairy tale-inspired world structured as chapters within an enchanted , confronting Gilgamech's forces and uncovering the corrupted legacy of legendary figures. This fantasy wrapper incorporates subtle elements through the robotic Steambots' designs and lore ties to the broader series. Gameplay centers on deck-building and turn-based combat, where players construct and manage decks of cards representing attacks, spells, and abilities for a party of up to three from a roster of ten recruitable characters. Each turn allows drawing up to six cards and playing three, emphasizing combos such as chaining attacks for amplified damage or generating special points () to fuel powerful abilities; party members specialize in roles like fighters, healers, or elemental mages, with job classes unlocked via relics that expand card options and strategies. occurs in linear, book-page-like scenes with light puzzle-solving and optional encounters, while progression involves leveling up through story chapters without mandatory backtracking. The title innovates within the genre by blending SteamWorld's signature humor—through witty dialogue and satirical takes on fantasy tropes—with fully voiced cutscenes featuring distorted, robotic intonations that enhance the whimsical tone. It eschews traditional grinding by scaling experience gains to discourage repeated battles, promoting strategic deck optimization and narrative-driven advancement instead, resulting in a concise 10-15 hour campaign focused on clever card synergies over exhaustive resource accumulation.

SteamWorld Build

SteamWorld Build is a city-building and dungeon-management developed by The Station and published by Thunderful Publishing. It was released on December 1, 2023, for Microsoft Windows, , , , , and Xbox Series X/S. As the first entry in the SteamWorld series developed entirely under Thunderful's internal studio, it marks a shift toward broader production resources within the franchise. In the game's narrative, players lead a group of Steambots on a dying planet, tasked with constructing a mining town to excavate ancient technology needed for escape. The story unfolds across surface-level town management and underground exploration, where players balance expansion against environmental decay and subterranean dangers, including infestations of hostile creatures resembling zombies in cavernous depths. This setup draws briefly from the mining exploration roots seen in earlier titles like SteamWorld Dig, but emphasizes strategic oversight over direct platforming. Gameplay centers on elements, where players manage resource production chains starting from basic materials like and , processed into and then to fuel town growth and operations. Above , players assign Steambot workers to construct buildings, upgrade , and maintain citizen through amenities, while below , teams of diggers, engineers, and guards navigate procedurally generated mines to ores and artifacts amid enemy encounters. Escalating threats manifest as waves of adversaries that require defensive setups, such as turrets and barriers, to protect excavation sites, creating a layer integrated with economic . Key features include a modular town layout allowing flexible placement of production facilities and residences, alongside tech trees that unlock automation tools like conveyor belts and advanced machinery to streamline resource flows. End-game challenges incorporate horde-style sieges, where intensified enemy assaults test optimized defenses and supply lines. Despite diverging from the series' action-oriented roots into simulation territory, the game has been praised for its layered depth in balancing multi-tiered economies and tactical mine management, offering accessible yet engaging progression for both newcomers and genre enthusiasts.

SteamWorld Heist II

SteamWorld Heist II is a shooter developed and published by Thunderful, released on August 8, 2024, for Microsoft Windows, , , , , and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set in the Great Oceanic Shard, a fragment of a shattered where steam-powered robots, or Steambots, depend on water for survival, but a mysterious poison is corrupting the seas, leading to a water crisis. Players control Captain Quincy Leeway, a one-armed Steambot leading a crew from a customizable , as they reclaim their vessel and embark on heists to uncover the source of the corruption while rebelling against the controlling . The narrative explores diverse oceanic Steambot societies across regions like East and West Caribbea, the frigid Arctica beyond the Great Wall, and Rattler territories, blending adventure with themes of resource scarcity and rebellion. Building on the original 's ricochet-based shooting, the sequel refines turn-based combat with free-aiming mechanics that emphasize trick shots bouncing off walls, ceilings, and enemies to solve geometry-based positioning puzzles. Naval movement integrates real-time ship combat and exploration, where players navigate the submarine to reveal map fog, engage patrols, and access missions. A flexible job system allows crew customization across roles like Snipers for precision shots, Brawlers for melee, Engineers for cover-building, and Boomers for explosives, with over 150 weapons and utility items enabling persistent ability builds. Deeper submarine upgrades enhance speed, armor, and weaponry for strategic depth in and combat. The features a longer campaign than its predecessor, spanning new biomes with handcrafted levels that incorporate explosive environmental interactions, such as destructible cover and ricochet-enabled hazards. These refinements contribute to a aggregate score of 81/100 based on 39 critic reviews, praising the evolved tactics and immersive world.

Reception and impact

Critical reception

The SteamWorld series has received generally positive critical reception, with an aggregate score averaging above 80/100 across its main entries. Standout titles include , which holds an 88/100 based on 38 reviews, praised for its refined exploration and upgrades system, and , averaging 84/100 across platforms like and , lauded for its tactical side-scrolling combat. Other games, such as SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech (81/100) and SteamWorld Heist II (81/100), have also earned strong scores for their innovative mechanics, while scored 74/100, noted for its accessible city-building but critiqued for limited depth in later stages. The franchise has garnered several indie-focused accolades and nominations, highlighting its consistent quality on modest budgets. received three nominations at the 2018 Nordic Game Awards, including Best Game and Best Mobile Game. SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech was nominated for IGN's Best Strategy/Tactics Game at the 2019 Best of Awards and was named among Nintendo's Best Games of 2019. More recently, SteamWorld Heist II earned a nomination for Best Fun For Everyone at the 2025 Nordic Game Awards and Best Tactical Game at the DIGY Awards. SteamWorld Heist was nominated for of the Year at the 2016 , underscoring early recognition for its genre fusion. Critics have frequently praised the series for its accessible yet deep gameplay, charming steampunk narratives, and genre-blending innovation, often describing the titles as polished indies that punch above their weight. Reviewers highlight how games like SteamWorld Heist and its sequel combine turn-based tactics with side-scrolling aiming for "clever, creative, and endlessly entertaining" combat that rewards strategic ricochet shots. The soundtracks, particularly El Huervo's contributions to SteamWorld Dig 2, have been celebrated for their energetic synthwave style, enhancing the exploratory vibe and drawing comparisons to Hotline Miami. Some early critiques noted the brevity of titles like the original SteamWorld Dig, with playtimes around 5-7 hours leading to complaints of feeling "too short" despite tight design. Reception has evolved from viewing early mobile releases like and as solid, unpretentious indies with addictive loops but limited scope, to acclaiming later console entries for delivering "AAA-like quality" through enhanced production values and narrative depth. marked a turning point, with critics calling it "one of the best games of all time" for its seamless world design and progression. Subsequent titles like continued this trend, blending city simulation with dungeon crawling in a way that feels "relaxed and easy-going" yet challenging, solidifying the series' reputation for versatile, high-polish experiences.

Commercial performance and legacy

The SteamWorld series has achieved notable commercial success as a multi-million unit selling franchise, according to publisher Thunderful Group's 2023 annual report. The Dig sub-series stands out as the top performer, with the original surpassing one million units sold across platforms by late 2017. Its sequel, , became developer Image & Form's most successful launch to date upon its 2017 release, selling nearly ten times more copies on than on . Later entries like have also contributed substantially, with significant sales on PC and other platforms. In contrast, , released in December 2023, underperformed relative to expectations despite generating approximately $300,000 in revenue during its first week on . Thunderful has emphasized multi-platform releases to broaden accessibility, distributing titles digitally across PC, consoles, and mobile while occasionally offering limited physical editions. The 2020 SteamWorld Collection, published by Super Rare Games for , bundled , , and in a limited-run physical format, highlighting the series' appeal for collectors. This approach has prioritized digital sales, which dominate the franchise's distribution model and have enabled sustained revenue through ports and bundles on platforms like and the . The SteamWorld series has established a enduring legacy in indie gaming by pioneering an anthology format that blends genres—such as mining adventure, , and city-building—within a shared universe, influencing developers to create varied, interconnected IPs. Its distinctive aesthetic and narrative has cemented a cultural niche in steampunk-themed titles, while serving as a flagship owned IP in Thunderful's portfolio alongside properties like Islanders and . Following the August 2024 release of II, the franchise's outlook emphasizes sustainability amid Thunderful's restructuring, including layoffs impacting about 20% of its workforce in early 2024 and additional cuts in November 2024 that canceled unannounced projects. However, Atari's acquisition of an 82% stake in Thunderful for €4.5 million in July 2025 provides resources for potential future entries, focusing on external publishing to complement internal SteamWorld development.

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