I Expect You to Die 3: Cog in the Machine — Everything We Know

Schell Games is back with yet another entry to the highly acclaimed I Expect You to Die series, a collection of escape-the-room puzzle-solving experiences that involve more gadgets and gizmos than you could dare shake a stick at. Announced earlier this week over on Meta Quest, the upcoming chapter will be rolling out to both Oculus Quest and PC VR at some point in the next nine or so months.

With all of that said, what do we actually know about Schell Games' I Expect You to Die 3: Cog in the Machine? Well, here's everything we've been able to gather on the subject since it first came to light. From its story to its revamped gameplay, here's everything we currently know about it.

What Is I Expect You to Die 3: Cog in the Machine?

I Expect You to Die 3: Cog in the Machine is an upcoming escape-the-room puzzle game by Schell Games. Similar to its first two instalments, the objective is to embark on a series of puzzle-heavy scenarios and ultimately use both your wits and your repertoire of fancy gadgets to survive their layered trials and tribulations. All of this will come together in a full-fledged VR experience for Oculus Quest and PC VR later this year.

“We have some unique and exciting locations in I Expect You To Die 3, and we can’t wait to see how players creatively solve puzzles in a race to beat Dr. Zor at their own game,” said Matt Mahon, project director at Schell Games. “Players new to the series can jump right in and have a great time, and returning fans will appreciate some fun nods to the prior games.”

Story

If you thought your time at the Agency was just about done, then you've been sorely mistaken. As it turns out, your sworn enemy, Zoraxis, has resurfaced, and it brings with it an entirely fresh network of schemes—escape-like puzzles that only you, the primary Agent with an impeccable set of skills and survival rate, can solve. Once again, you must return to play your part as one of the Agency's last resorts in order to stop the powers that be from overthrowing the balance.

“Your skills, and survival rate, make you one of our most capable agents, and you’ve resurfaced right on time,” the blurb reads in part. “Zoraxis, our sworn enemy, has something new up its sleeve and we fear dire consequences if we don’t stop its diabolical schemes. We’re counting on you to throw a wrench into whatever evil is brewing. In this escape-the-room VR puzzler, you need to protect the Agency and the world as we know it, without losing your wits…or your life!”

Gameplay

Given the fact that this is indeed an escape-type puzzle game, Agents can certainly expect to encounter a wide selection of death-defying feats and time-based encounters. Armed with a myriad of niche gadgets, you will need to shovel through a series of levels, which will no doubt include defusing bombs, cracking codes, and essentially unraveling clues to help progress deeper into the campaign.

Of course, there's still plenty we don't know about the actual gameplay side of things, though the first two entries have definitely painted a vivid portrait of what we are likely to receive. And so, before you delve into the third chapter when it eventually drops later this year, be sure to sharpen your tools and your intuitive mind by solving the intricate puzzles spread out in the first two.

Development

The third instalment in the well-known puzzle saga is being developed by Schell Games, an up-and-coming firm that has made its contributions to the VR community through hits such as Among Us VR, Until You Fall, and of course, I Expect You to Die. 

“I Expect You To Die launched in 2016, and the franchise has expanded beyond our expectations thanks to the passion and hard work of the development teams and our amazing fans,” said Schell Games CEO Jesse Schell in a press release. “We are truly grateful for the community of Secret Agents who supported the series over the years, and we’re excited to declassify top secret missions that anyone can enjoy.”

Trailer

So, has Schell Games provided any form of sneak preview since announcing the long-awaited third instalment? In short, yes, thanks to Meta Quest publishing a relatively short but insightful minute-long trailer earlier this week. You can catch a minor glimpse of the action, gadgetry, and the general aesthetic of the game in the trailer above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

I Expect You to Die 3: Cog in the Machine is due to launch on Oculus Quest and PC VR headsets at some point in late 2023. It hasn't been said yet whether or not the game will be branching out to PlayStation VR 2, though it is does seem increasingly likely that a grander announcement will be made a little further down the line, what with the second generation of the headset still being set in its infancy.

At this moment in time, neither Schell Games nor any spokesperson has announced any special editions alongside the standard copy that will launch in 2023. This is subject to change, of course, but at present it seems the one and only way to get your fix is via the Steam copy. You can add it to your Wishlist here.

For more information on the I Expect You to Die 3: Cog in the Machine launch, you can follow the official social feed here. If anything even remotely interesting pops up in the meantime, we'll be sure to spill all of the core details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of I Expect You to Die 3: Cog in the Machine when it eventually drops? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.