Warren Spector, the famed video game producer behind Deus Ex, System Shock, and Epic Mickey, is leading the development of an all-new title.
The upcoming game is in development at OtherSide Entertainment, the same studio currently working on System Shock 3, and is described as an immersive simulation (think Deathloop or BioShock).
"Fans of my work already know what to expect: an immersive world and gripping narrative that players will directly impact through their choices and playstyles," Spector said in a press release.
"We are still in the early stages of development and hope to share more information soon!"
Otherside previously announced that it has appointed industry veteran Jeff Goodsill as studio CEO to lead production of "upcoming next-gen titles for consoles and PC." This could suggest that Spector's new game will be coming to PC and console platforms when it launches.
Goodsill has his own impressive collection of credits, having worked on classic real-time strategy games like Age of Empires and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, as well as the Diablo-esque action RPG Titan Quest.
Otherside has released a single piece of concept art for the upcoming game, which features what appears to be a massive whale clad in golden armor flying through an alien scene. Another smaller figure also appears to be flying on a golden platform to the left. Maybe Spector took a leaf out of the BioShock book, putting his new game under water.
Analysis: immersive simulations are here to stay
While immersive sims have never reached the same heights of commercial success as other genres, they've been a mainstay of gaming and their influence reaches far, showing up in odd places like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In the late 2000s, the genre resurfaced with the release of BioShock, while 2011's Deus Ex: Human Revolution, 2012's Dishonored, and 2021's Deathloop kept the simulation's immersive flame alive.
Add to that the upcoming release of System Shock 3 and the new title Spector, and the pinnacle of immersive simulation could be just around the corner. The open, player-driven gameplay of the original Thief, Deus Ex, and System Shock games was somewhat constrained by hardware limitations at the time of their release. It's exciting to see how the genre can take new directions with the development of more powerful game engines and the spread of 4K resolutions.
However, what is particularly exciting about this game is Spector's place in the industry. The designer has worked on an impressive list of games that have become beloved classics. Now that he is returning to his roots, there will be a lot of pressure to live up to the expectations of nostalgic fans.
If you fancy diving into one of the newest immersive sims on the market, check out the best deals on Deathloop below.
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