SOMA’s Spiritual Successor ONTOS Delayed to 2027

When Frictional Video games launched SOMA again in 2015, the survival horror genre skilled a profound, unforgettable shift. As a substitute of relying solely on leap scares, the studio crafted an unsettling, philosophical sci-fi narrative that pressured gamers to query the very material of human consciousness and synthetic life – all whereas delivering an exceptional horror sport.

Mixed with their work on the Amnesia franchise, the builders have spent years sitting comfortably on a pedestal as undisputed masters of psychological ambiance. Naturally, when phrase initially obtained out that the group was engaged on a brand-new cosmic thriller known as ONTOS, the group instantly turned its full consideration to it. Nonetheless, it appears our journey into the deep unknown goes to require a bit of extra persistence.

A Heavy Delay for an Formidable Imaginative and prescient

In a current replace shared throughout social media platforms that has despatched ripples throughout the horror group, writer Kepler Interactive, alongside the artistic group at Frictional Video games, formally introduced a serious scheduling change for his or her upcoming undertaking, ONTOS.

As a substitute of hitting storefronts in the course of the backend of this yr as initially meant, the extremely anticipated sci-fi thriller has been pushed fully out of its present calendar slot. ONTOS is now scheduled to make its darkish debut someday in 2027, and, sadly, the event group did not present a particular launch window past that broad yr.

Whereas listening to {that a} main title will not make its promised annual deadline is all the time a troublesome capsule to swallow, the builders had been extremely fast to clarify and make clear why the additional growth time is significant for the sport’s general high quality – and it’s really excellent news within the grand scheme of issues.

In keeping with their assertion, the size of what Frictional Video games is attempting to construct this time round has surpassed something they’ve ever tried prior to now. So, to make sure the fragile layers of horror and environmental storytelling merge seamlessly, speeding the undertaking out the door merely wasn’t a viable choice.

“ONTOS is our most formidable sport up to now, each when it comes to its dimension and scale, and within the depth and layers of our story and gameplay,” the official joint assertion from Frictional Video games and Kepler Interactive reads. “So as to ship this imaginative and prescient, we have now determined to push the discharge of ONTOS to 2027.”

So let’s look on the brilliant aspect for a quick second: whereas ready one other full calendar yr for a non secular successor to SOMA would possibly really feel agonizing, giving a high-concept psychological sport extra time within the oven is nearly all the time the best transfer. In spite of everything, no one likes the concept of getting to face technical bugs or unpolished gameplay mechanics on prime of the primary menace in a horror sport.

Final however not least, the studio additionally promised that they will not depart us fully empty-handed till then, confirming that they’re planning to share way more about this mysterious world and its distinctive characters comparatively quickly.

Both method, we should wait just a bit bit longer earlier than we will lastly unravel no matter terrifying mysteries are lurking at the hours of darkness corners of this new IP. I am positively bummed that we can’t get to expertise ONTOS this October, particularly since my spooky season backlog was already screaming for a heavy dose of Frictional Video games’ signature existential dread. But when the top result’s one other sci-fi masterpiece that rivals the brilliance of SOMA, then 2027 really cannot come quickly sufficient!