Game Informer

Game Informer

Axiom Verge 2, Back 4 Blood, and James McAvoy Interview | GI Show

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 01:23 PM PDT

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In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we discuss a handful of games we've been digging recently, including Axiom Verge 2, Back 4 Blood, Eldest Souls, Dodgeball Academia, Golf Club Wasteland. 

We also have an interview with actor James McAvoy who is in the upcoming indie game 12 Minutes about a man caught in a timeloop, trying to prevent the death of his wife. McAvoy talks about the recording process as well has his history playing video games – in fact, he shares one story about how he had to melt a disc copy of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, because he was staying up late playing the game instead of preparing for work. For more on 12 Minutes, be sure to read our interview with Willem Dafoe. 

It's a full show, but we make time for another fantastic round of community emails. So please join John Carson (@John_Carson), Matthew Miller (@MatthewRMiller), Brian Shea (@BrianPShea), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken), and Ben Reeves (@Benjaminreeves) for a new wild and ever-entertaining episode!

Thanks for listening! Please make sure to leave feedback below and share the episode if you enjoyed it. You can watch the video above, subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes or Google Play, listen on SoundCloud, stream it on Spotify, or download the MP3 at the bottom of the page. Also, be sure to send your questions to podcast@gameinformer.com for a chance to have them answered on the show!

Our thanks to The Rapture Twins for The Game Informer Show's intro song. You can hear more of their music on their website.

To jump to a particular point in the discussion, check out the time stamps below:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:45 - Eldest Souls

00:08:41 - Dodgeball Academia

00:15:47 - Hades Next-Gen

00:18:37 - Axiom Verge 2

00:32:00 - Back 4 Blood Beta

00:41:50 - Death's Door

00:44:08 - SplitGate

00:51:08 - Community Email

01:35:47 - James McAvoy Interview | 12 Minutes

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Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle – New Gameplay Today

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 11:30 AM PDT

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Publisher: Marvelous Games
Developer: Cygames
Release:
Rating: Teen
Platform: Switch

Are you ready to become the very best, the best there ever was? No, it's not a game about taking care of an electric rat, it's the latest card game RPG, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle. It's kind of convoluted how we got here but basically, Shadowverse is a digital card game that's been around for quite some time (we did a test chamber on it back a long time ago) and the game got an anime. And then anime was the basis for the game we're looking at today. At least, that's how I think it happened.

Either way, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle is a Switch exclusive that won't let you down if you're looking to conjure up some of the magic of yesteryear when card-based RPG titles were all the rage, all the way back to Magic: The Gathering's Shandalar. While you can pretty much assume that the story is going to take you through tiered-competitors and a lot of forgettable dialogue, the core concept of upgrading your deck, trying different strategies, and competing to increase your rank while doing quests and collecting cards is a tried-and-true blast.

In recent years, card-based RPGs for the big licenses have been few and far between, with the occasional Yu-Gi-Oh! Offering coming into the picture. Shadowverse: Champions Battle will undoubtedly whet your appetite for the actual free-to-play card game, but it stands solid on its own with plenty of cool strategies to employ and fun anime animations for slamming into an opponent with a big dragon. It's probably even cooler if you've seen the associated show, but alas I have not. You get to play as a multitude of different factions and work up decks as you like, and even go online to spar with other players.

You can make huge dragons fast with Dragoncraft, count your opponent down to doom with Havencraft, bid the dead to do your bidding with Shadowcraft, and more. If you want to go galaxy brain you can boost up your spells with Runecraft or beat yourself up for potent buffs with Bloodcraft! There are numerous options to explore each with a ton of cards to play around with, and the progression through the world – a traditional JRPG school with friends tale involving big tournaments and stadium play – works well here.

Check out more on this episode of New Gameplay Today!

 

Back 4 Blood Open Beta - GI Live

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 10:50 AM PDT

For years, fans of Valve's iconic zombie-slayer Left 4 Dead have been begging for a return to the franchise. While Back 4 Blood may not have everything players have asked for, developer Turtle Rock Studios has shown over its previous alpha and early access beta tests that they have their finger on the pulse of what makes the PVE slaughter of the undead so satisfying. If you missed last week's beta, you're in for a treat, as the Back 4 Blood beta is returning to consoles and PC for one last time before its October 12 release date later this year.

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To celebrate this one last showing, Liana Ruppert, Marcus Stewart, and Alex Stadnik are stepping into The Cleaners' shoes and blowing through the undead live for your viewing pleasure. We're kicking the show off at 2:30 p.m. CT exclusively on Twitch, so be sure to come through, say hello, and kick your feet up as the crew tests out Left 4 Dead's spiritual successor. 

Still interested in Back 4 Blood? We have you covered here at Game Informer with a ton of excellent content. Fans of the written word should check out Brian Shea's great preview of his time with the early access beta and Liana's PSA about what players should know about the early tech test. If video is more your cup of tea, be sure to watch our previous stream where we take on the undead in the game's first act and test out the new PVP mode! Thanks for watching and we hope you enjoy the show!

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Hideo Kojima's Post On P.T's Anniversary Kicks Up PS5 Game 'Abandoned' Rumors Once More

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 10:10 AM PDT

BlueBox Game Studios' mysterious PlayStation 5 title Abandoned continues to be at the epicenter of conspiracy theories. Many believe, and not without merit, that Abandoned is secretly a Hideo Kojima game while others are sure it's something related to Silent Hill. Though studio head Hasan Kahraman has plainly stated in the past that Abandoned is its own game, in no way related to Kojima, Konami, or Silent Hill, that hasn't been enough to assuage fan theories. Following an additional Konami link was previously discovered, kicking the proverbial hornet nest once more, surrounding a Konami-sponsored podcast, it's now a Hideo Kojima post itself making waves in this particular whirlpool. 

Today is the anniversary of P.T., the now-canceled interactive teaser for Silent Hills. The cancelation of this project upset many in the gaming community, as well as those working on it. The hope has always been that some day it would make a comeback, and some are convinced that Kojima's latest tweet may be another piece of this very confusing puzzle. 

The latest tweet in question, seen above, is an image of Murder In An Abandoned Amusement Park by Yuki Shashindo. It took about two seconds before the replies noticed the word "abandoned" in the title and then immediately connect the post with the illusive PS5 game. When looking through the thread, there are a plethora of responses centering around the coincidence of the media recommendation and the tie with the BlueBox title. Some see this as proof that the game is connected to Hideo Kojima, whereas others just mentioned that this whole rabbit hole is making their head hurt. I'm in the latter camp, because this is just odd. 

Even though Kahraman has vehemently denied that Abandoned is related to Kojima or Konami, another recent teaser seemed to contradict that directly. At least if you read into the comment section. BlueBox tweeted a new image for Abandoned with a blurred background of an older man with an eyepatch, not unlike in a certain Metal Gear series, with blurred text in the background that many believe reads "Welcome to Silent Hill." Then we were supposed to get a tech demo and the day of its expected arrival, it was delayed for a patch to go through. What's interesting is that there doesn't appear to be any patch listed on PlayStation 5 in connection with the Abandoned app. Usually, if a patch or update is in progress, a patch tracker will list information about when it's supposed to go live. The studio mentioned an update was coming to fix the reason why the highly anticipated teaser was delayed again, but nothing is showing up. Now, this could be explained through certification submission protocols, though the timing still feels off. If it were a certification issue, it's more than likely that it would have been picked up before the update was slated to go live. 

See? The plot thickens, you can make these things up. Abandoned is without a doubt one of the greatest mysteries in gaming right now, but this entire rabbit hole-like situation does bring up a major concern for me. Abandoned seems to be promising a lot with such a small team and a team that we don't really have any history with for comparison. Where my concern comes in is that the speculation-driven hype surrounding the elusive PS5 game will place deep-rooted expectations on what Abandoned even is, and these expectations will likely be impossible to reach because the very experience itself isn't what people are assuming. It will be interesting to see what the road to launch looks like, especially if the past month is any indicator. As more and more "connections" are found, the more and more damage could be witnessed when whatever this project is eventually releases. 

And if it does end up being Silent Hill or a Kojima project? Then well done. Personally, I'm of a mind that this is an elaborate social experiment made to weigh in on the leak and rumor culture of entertainment. Both on the community side and media side, incorrect leaks and assumptions are everywhere at all times of day. What if this really is just a social experiment to shed a light on that? The tinfoil hat is on folks, but hopefully we'll get answers soon. 

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Frostpunk 2 Is Coming And It Takes Place Decades After The Original

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:33 AM PDT

Frostpunk, the bleak yet well-received survival game, is getting a sequel. 11 Bit Studios has announced that Frostpunk 2 is on the way and task players with once again braving a frigid hellscape. The catch is that this time it's set 30 years in the future.

The age of coal has ended and now oil has become the frozen society's most sought-after resource. Not everyone is on board with this direction, and those who are have become embroiled in faction wars and other conflicts. Like the first game, Frostpunk 2 blends city-building, survival, and choice-driven gameplay by putting you in the shoes of the leader of a struggling city. You've got hungry mouths to feed and not enough warmth to go around so it's your job to make tough decisions in the type of politics that will net the best results. Ruling with an iron fist may have resources pouring in but will your people resent you? Does a more benevolent approach paint a picture of political weakness in the eyes of rival settlements? 

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While Frostpunk 2 retains many of the elements of the original, 11 Bit Studios says they're aiming to make "more than a straight-up sequel".  According to the game's co-director Jakub Stokalski, "Frostpunk 2 builds on the conflicts of its predecessor – survival vs human values, life vs the arctic frost. But most importantly, it adds a new layer that is present in many aspects of the game – be it politics, be it society, be it technological progress – the conflict between humans and their nature"

We scored the original Frostpunk an 8.75 out of 10 with former Game Informer editor Matt Bertz writing that "Rarely does an interactive experience keep me awake at night wrestling with big decisions. Frostpunk did this on multiple occasions and made me feel squeamish when forcing edicts upon society instead of building consensus. Extraordinary circumstances call for desperate measures, and all I can do is ask for forgiveness from those trampled by my headstrong approach." 

Frostpunk 2 is planned to launch for PC only for now, but the first game eventually made its way to consoles so chances are good that this will too. It currently has no release window.

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Talking 12 Minutes With Willem Dafoe For 12 Minutes

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT

Even five years after its promising premiere at PAX East in 2015, we still can't wait to get our hands on 12 Minutes. The premise behind this inventive indie game is simple, you are a man stuck in a 12-minute time loop, trying desperately to prevent the death of your pregnant wife. But, in the middle of dinner, a police officer arrives and accuses your wife of murdering his father. Your wife dies during the ensuing struggle and no matter how many times you relive the scenario, the situation always ends in tragedy. The concept is strong, but so is its all-star cast: James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe. We talked to Dafoe and 12 Minutes' director Luis Antonio about how this little indie game got such an impressive cast and how the narrative evolved throughout development.

To start, can you set up the game a bit. Where did the original idea come from?
Antonio: My goal was to explore the concept of accumulated knowledge. How would it be if, in a game, you have this information that keeps accumulating. I realized the most interesting aspect is actually not only the factual things of knowing key codes and how to access someone's computer, but the knowledge that people have about each other. It became more of an intimate story about relationships and uncovering things that you know about other people, and how you as a player deal with that information, since the game itself never tells you what to do. It's all set in an apartment. There's the husband and the wife, then there's the intruder who comes in and disrupts the evening. From that moment on is the unraveling of the stories of these three characters and seeing the layering as you as you go through each loop, learning more about them and their dynamics.

How did you get involved, Willem?
Dafoe: Basically, Luis pitched the game to me. I've done some work on games and I like doing voice work. I like many things, but voice work is very special because it's very freeing and often you're joining a project that someone has been with for a long time, and they've really developed it. In the case of Luis, he walks you through what he wants to see and then you basically use all you have at your disposal, using your voice, to help him see that. It's kind of a call and response game between the director and the actor that I enjoyed. Just practically, you're calling for different situations, so you have to have some flexibility. Sometimes you're working psychologically, sometimes you're working purely sonically, and sometimes you're responding to things that he needs to accomplish in the game. It's a very immediate and very loose kind of collaboration. And I enjoyed it.

You mentioned that you've done other games. Beyond: Two Souls is probably your highest profile release. What keeps you coming back to games? Is there something about them that intrigues you or scratches an acting itch you don't get elsewhere?
Dafoe: I don't know that I keep on coming back to it. I do lots of stuff, but you know, when someone comes to you with a passion project that has an interesting aspect as far as its structure and how they're approaching it, you get inspired by that and you try to help them realize it. I also got to say, the time loop stuff is a little bit of a mind bender, that doesn't quite tickle me, but I do like the idea that the more knowledge you get, the more you realize what you don't know. Also, there's something basic to the game that when Luis talks about accumulated knowledge, if you're awake, and if you're really playing the game in a full-blown way, it's interesting to see that it's reflective on your behavior and your way of thinking.

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What was it like working with David Cage? Was it different?
Dafoe: A lot of people respond to that game. I mean, of course it was different, and the difference was that [for 12 Minutes] we were basically recording wild, and also the fact that this is a top shot, and it's quite a bit different how it's rendered. With David Cage, we were doing mocap stuff, so we were generating material for the computer people to build the characters. Here we were basically working with our voice, and we aren't doing it to picture. While we're doing the physical stuff, so you have the breath and the exertion and the emotional quality, you aren't actually performing it. With Beyond: Two Souls, we were performing everything in mocap.

How would you describe this character that you're playing in 12 Minutes? What makes this character tick?
Dafoe: You know, I don't know. I play situations. He's an intruder. That's what he's called. Some of his story is revealed, and depending on how the player plays the game, he's a different person.

Antonio: It's tricky to reply to that question without spoiling a lot of the story.

[Dafoe laughs]

Okay, sure. So is that all you want to tease for now? Play the game and find out?
Dafoe: Well, I think I said more than that.

Antonio: No, no, no, no, that was a very elegant answer. But it's very true. Because it's a lot about learning about these characters and their motivations, so asking their motivation is kind of ...

Okay, we can move on. Did the character change or evolve through development or once Willem got on board?
Antonio: It definitely changed. Like, until I met Willem and he voiced the character, I never saw the character. As Willem said at the start, the characters were tools to tell a narrative, but once there was a voice behind it, and some problems have to be solved when two actors are interacting, and they're bouncing off each other, I think that's when the character came to life. Until then, I never saw them, really.

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Do you feel like you brought something special to this character Willem?
Dafoe: You know, you show up. There's very little way that you can prepare for it. You're basically working wild with your voice. You know basic scenarios. You know basic intentions of the characters. But it's instant collaboration. It's not like traditional performing where you're presenting your body. You have nothing to hold you down, so you're totally fluid. You go into that room, and you go wherever your feelings take you and where the director guides you and where the other actors send you. I guess that's going back to your question about what's attractive about it. It's a very loose and lively way to approach things. You don't really make choices, you react, and you work in many different ways. You stand inside and you stand outside it. You get an opportunity to play with lots of variations, and that's great fun. When you have that kind of flexibility, and you'll have that kind of freedom it's interesting, because when you're just doing a voice you can be anything. You can be a talking whale, you can be a 500 pound drag queen. You can be anything.

So you're telling me that this character is secretly a whale? Is that what I'm hearing?
Dafoe: [Laughs] Sure, go with it.  

Have you gotten the chance to play the game yet, Willem?
Dafoe: I haven't. I think it's not finished. Is it?

Antonio: It's practically finished? Yeah, I would say it's very soon.

Dafoe: I must confess. I love working on these things but I'm not really a game player. When my son was growing up, many years ago, I remember many fierce Sonic the Hedgehog games, but that's about as deep as I go.

Were you actually working with Daisy Ridley and James McAvoy? When you recorded were they in the room?
Dafoe: They weren't in the room. It was pandemic times, so we were on Zoom. They were probably in the UK and I was in Rome. I will say that they were both on board before Louis talked to me about the game. They were a real plus, because they're both very good actors, and that let me know the quality that they were looking for, and I thought it would be fun to play with them. In fact, I did a movie with Daisy, and she's terrifically talented, and she's very smart and sweet and a fun person. I must confess that James and Daisy being in it was something that attracted me to this project.

Do you feel like games challenge you in a way that you don't get from other acting roles?
Dafoe: As you can imagine the audience doesn't see you. Since you're doing just the voice, it's different. It's not better, it's not worse. When you're putting everything into your voice, it's a kind of intensity and a kind of concentration that I really enjoy. With all performing, there's that balance between really putting yourself out there in kind of freefall but also you have to develop another awareness of other elements. There's a minimum of technical elements in this. Rather than shooting, there's not the kind of camera awareness or marks or things that sometimes can help you but can also restrict you. You've got a mic in front of you and basically, you're just closing your eyes and letting it rip.

I'm good at letting it rip.
Dafoe: There's something fun and fluid and freeing about that, for sure. It's fun to do, because it's so mercurial, and also you have someone whispering in your ear like Jiminy Cricket, who's telling you "Go this way. Go that way. We need more of this. Come on, lean on him. Back off." They're whispering in your ear, and you're trying to manifest those things with your voice. You're not showing it, you're trying to imagine it, and have it come out through your voice. That's a kind of alchemy that is beautiful.

For more on 12 Minutes, be sure to read our hands-on preview or see how it placed in our list of exciting indie gems.

Full QuakeCon 2021 Event Schedule Revealed, A Digital Event All Can Attend

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 08:50 AM PDT

As a result of COVID-19, QuakeCon 2021 will be another all-digital event this year, and we've got the full schedule to see what's in store for the road ahead. While we do miss in-person events, the good news is that the live-streamed event is purely focused on the digital space, which means no one has to miss out on certain aspects of what QuakeCon has to offer. That includes the puppies. Yes, we said puppies. 

QuakeCon will kick off at 2 p.m. Eastern on August 19 and following the Welcome Message opening stream, there will be a plethora of "fan-focused" panels for Bethesda and id fans to enjoy. We'll learn more about what is in store for the future while also reflecting back on some iconic game anniversaries. This is Todd Howard's moment to shine and talk about Skyrim some more, and honestly? We love to see it. 

For those interested, here is what the full schedule looks like for next week's festivities: 

QuakeCon 2021 Schedule

Thursday, Aug 19 

  • Welcome to QuakeCon 2021 with Pete Hines & Erin Losi: 2 p.m. ET 

  • Celebrating 25 Years of Quake with id Software and Machine Games: 2:05 p.m. ET – Kevin Cloud and Marty Stratton from id Software and Jerk Gustafsson from MachineGames discuss the impact and legacy of the original Quake on its 25th anniversary. 

  • Deep Dive into Deathloop with Arkane Lyon: 2:30 p.m. ET – Arkane Lyon gets fans … looped in … on the details of the upcoming PlayStation 5 console exclusive Deathloop, including a special discussion about multiplayer.  

  • Fallout 76: Making Appalachia Your Own with Fallout Worlds: 3 p.m. ET – Join members of the Fallout 76 development team as they discuss how the game is evolving and take an in-depth look at our upcoming Fallout Worlds Update.  

  • Inside the Award-Winning The Elder Scrolls Online with ZeniMax Online Studios: 3:30 p.m. ET – Matt Firor and Rich Lambert take fans inside ESO and discuss the great additions to the game and what new players can expect from the award-winning MMO.  

  • Reliving the Opening of Skyrim with the Creators from BGS: 4 p.m. ET – Hey you! You're finally awake. Celebrate Skyrim's 10th Anniversary and watch the opening moments of Skyrim as the creators discuss insider stories and relive memories from development. 

  • DOOM Eternal Studio Update with Marty and Hugo: 4:30 p.m. ET – id Software's Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin bring fans up-to-date on everything happening with Doom Eternal. 

  • ANZ – Fallout 76 End-Game Guide: 11 p.m. ET 

  • ANZ – Fallout 76 – Playing with UFC Middleweight Rob Whittaker: 12:30 a.m. ET 

Friday, Aug 20 

  • UK – Fallout 76 – UK Stream Team Build-a-Thon: 9:30 a.m. ET 

  • UK – Let's Talk Quake with Digital Foundry: 10:45 a.m. ET 

  • Deathloop Meets its Makers: 2:15 p.m. ET  

  • WeRateDog's Matt Nelson and Pete Hines Rate Dogs & More: 3:30 p.m. ET 

  • Code Orange vs Quake Music Video Debut: 4:15 p.m. ET 

  • Alienware – Fundraising and Raising Heck with Anna Maree: 5 p.m. ET 

  • The Elder Scrolls Online – Dungeon Speed Run Competition: 6:30 p.m. ET 

  • Exclusive Musical Performance by Trivium: 8 p.m. ET 

  • Skyrim – 10th Anniversary Interactive Fun Run with Gus Johnson: 9:00 p.m. ET  

  • ANZ – The Elder Scrolls Online – Mates of Oblivion Dungeon Runs: 12:30 a.m. ET 

  • ANZ – The Elder Scrolls Online – MissMollyMakes An Epic Banquet: 1:45 a.m. ET 

Saturday, Aug 21 

  • UK – DOOM Eternal - 'Prayer vs Slayer': 9:30 a.m. ET 

  • UK – ESO - Through Flames of Ambition with the UK Stream Team: 10:45 a.m. ET 

  • Doom Eternal Battlemode Community Bonanza!: 2:15 p.m. ET 

  • Fallout 76 – C.A.M.P. Love It or Nuke It: 3:30 p.m. ET 

  • Quake World Championship Grand Finals: 4:45 p.m. ET 

  • The Elder Scrolls Online – Live Art Creation: 6:30 p.m. ET 

Just like years prior, there will also be more charity initiatives represented, as well, which brings us to one of the most important parts of QuakeCon: The puppies. Once more, fans will be able to grab exclusive Catloop and Pugcubus apparel that aids in reading money for Dallas Pets Alive and Four Paws, two organizations that aims to foster safe animal adoption. During the last live event for QuakeCon, there was even a pit of puppies you could play in to take one of those cuties home! 

Equally important in the charity realm is the effort to raise money for organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, The Trevor Project, and UNICEF USA. 

There will be loot to earn with free in-game goodies like an exclusive QuakeCon-exclusive Doom Eternal Slayer skin, Crown Crates for Elder Scrolls Online, and new cosmetics for Quake Champions. To learn more, check out the official QuakeCon website right here to join in on the fun. 

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Diablo 4 Director Among Three No Longer At The Studio Following Activision Blizzard Labor Abuse Allegations

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 07:47 AM PDT

Amidst the ongoing investigation following details from a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) concerning reported toxic workplace conditions, three more high-profile developers have departed the company. Game Informer has confirmed reports that Diablo 4 game director Luis Barriga has joined Jesse McCree, a lead designer, and World of Warcraft dev Johnathan LeCraft in leaving the company. 

"We can confirm Luis Barriga, Jesse McCree, and Jonathan LeCraft are no longer with the company," an Activision Blizzard spokesperson said in response to a request for comment following a report that broke on Wednesday night.  "We have a deep, talented roster of developers already in place, and new leaders have been assigned where appropriate. We are confident in our ability to continue progress, deliver amazing experiences to our players, and move forward to ensure a safe, productive work environment for all."

The three employees have been removed from the official Blizzard press page and the studio's work assets, such as Slack and the internal directory. Barriga has been with the company since 2005 and has worked on several notable IPs under the Blizzard umbrella, most recently Diablo 4. McCree joined the company simultaneously as Barriga and has even had his name included in Overwatch as an official character. McCree was one of the developers named in the infamous "Cosby Suite" controversy, which you can learn more about here. 

Other removals have already occurred, including former Blizzard Entertainment president J. Allen Brack and HR lead Jesse Meschuk. The latter was another developer seen in the photos that surfaced about the Cosby suite and the now-public group chat surrounding it.  

In related news, Kotick released a statement last week addressing the concerns but seemingly skating around the demands listed in a public letter to leadership. That letter was followed by a company-wide walkout of Blizzard employees, a walkout supported by an open letter from Ubisoft employees that have been faced with similar instances noted within the California lawsuit. To learn more about the proceedings thus far, including details listed in the lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, please review our previous coverage here. 

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Spec Ops: The Line Director And Nine Inch Nails Guitarist Open New Studio, 'Cosmic Horror' Game In Development

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 07:04 AM PDT

Cory Davis, the creative director and designer of Spec Ops: The Line, is forming a new studio alongside Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck. Davis has a long history in the industry, including additional credits on Monolith's F.E.A.R. and Condemned franchises. Finck worked with Davis on the indie horror game, Here They Lie. The new studio that the two are creating is called Eyes Out.

Left to right: Cory Davis, Robin Finck.

Robin Finck has provided music for a few titles himself, including Observation and Noct. In an emailed press release, Davis recounted his first fateful meeting with Finck:

"When I was finishing up work on Here They Lie, Robin wandered into our studio and I felt a very strong connection to his open, creative view of existence, and the power of music. We instantly started working on some prototypes I had in development at the time and together we launched straight toward something unexpected. Robin's vibrant and boundless approach to the creative process drives our work far beyond my previous experience. It's such an exhilarating trip to venture into the darkness together."

As per its mission statement, Eyes Out is committed to creating atmospheric, digital experiences through the "imaginative use of audio and visuals." The studio is already working on a single-player "cosmic horror" game with environmental storytelling. 

Cory Davis' Spec Ops: The Line was well-known for its unexpected finale and nuanced perspective on PTSD in a genre that prioritized shooting mechanics over narrative. In his review, Matt Bertz was a little more critical of the game. Still, he noted its lasting impact, "Spec Ops makes an admirable attempt to inject morality into a standard shooter experience. The narrative unravels at the end and the controls are subpar compared to the top-tier competitors, but the journey into madness is unlike anything I've played before."

Hopefully, Davis and Finck successfully meld their expertise when Eyes Out's first IP launches.

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