In an interview with 80.lv (noticed through Eurogamer), Frictional Video games inventive director and co-founder Thomas Grip revealed that the studio is contemplating de-emphasizing horror in its future tasks, as an alternative utilizing its distinctive immersive, first-person model to inform different kinds of tales.
“Horror video games naturally are the place feelings are entrance and heart,” Grip defined. “Nonetheless, we’re additionally exploring themes outdoors of constructing issues spooky.
“For future tasks, I believe we’ll reduce a bit on the horror elements so as to give larger deal with different emotional qualities. I’m assured that these video games will nonetheless really feel like Frictional ones. The immersion, the private journey, and a holistic imaginative and prescient are what I see as defining traits of a Frictional recreation—not simply horror as such.”
Frictional has an extended historical past of first particular person horror video games stretching again previous Amnesia, with the Penumbra collection being its first main success. Whereas that historical past makes a possible flip to different storytelling priorities a little bit of a shock, it kinda has me extra excited than ever for what comes subsequent.
Whereas Amnesia was a revelation again in 2010, I may take or depart its run-and-hide horror after a couple of entries. I really like sci-fi spinoff SOMA and 2020’s Amnesia: Rebirth extra for his or her high-concept tales and tactile, residing environments than the bits the place I am chased by a nasty man.
Even this yr’s Amnesia: The Bunker feels extra like an exception that proves the rule to me. It is now one in all my favourite horror video games, interval, with an unbelievable setting, terrifyingly clever monster, and hardcore, old-school useful resource administration, however it solely pulled that off by breaking sharply with Amnesia collection custom. I imply, The Bunker provides you a gun. I say let Frictional prepare dinner and see what else the studio comes up with.
We reported again in February that Frictional inventive director Fredrik Olsson let it slip that the studio is working “on an even bigger challenge that you would be able to say has far more of this sort of philosophical stuff such as you noticed in SOMA.” Apparently that challenge can be being headed up by none apart from Thomas Grip—is that this but to be formally introduced recreation the place we would see a transfer past horror play out?
A January narrative design job posting from Frictional needed somebody who “loves sci-fi and horror,” so who’s to say what ratio of spooky to “one thing else” Frictional will choose for this subsequent challenge and what comes after.