Still Wakes the Deep: Everything We Know

The Chinese Room, a developer best known for Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, has unveiled its plans to move to an all-new psychological horror IP. Aptly titled Still Wakes the Deep, the upcoming oil-driven thriller will look to blend powerful storytelling with an iron atmosphere and classic survival-based gameplay. Basically, it’s everything we could ever want and more from a studio of such high caliber. And on that note, here’s hoping the payout is on par with its earlier works, particularly Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, which went on to win several BAFTA awards for its impeccable sound design and voice performances.

Unfortunately, the next entry in the studio’s book won’t be arriving for quite some time yet, what with its recent appearance at the Xbox Showcase going on to suggest an early 2024 launch. If, however, you happened to catch the event and liked what you saw, then be sure to read on. Here’s everything you need to know about the so-called Still Wakes the Deep.

What Is Still Wakes the Deep?

To cut to the chase, Still Wakes the Deep is an upcoming psychological survival horror game, one that’s set on an oil rig during the peak of a vicious storm. As one of its key workers abandoned at sea, you will need to keep your wits about you as you tackle all the elements that hammer down on the rig and threaten its inhabitants’ safety. And not just the elements, but an “unrelenting foe” that prowls the halls in the dead of night. Your objective: survive at all costs, either alone, or with the other survivors isolated aboard the oil rig. Creepy stuff.

Story

Still Wakes the Deep is set in December 1975, right off the coast of Scotland in the Beira D oil rig. It is here, stranded in the depths of the ocean, that you will take your place. As one of its workers, you will need to buckle up for the storm of a lifetime. And not just a storm, but a foe that’s just so happened to climb aboard in the dead of night. As for what this foe is remains unclear, but it’s sure to instill a few frights, whatever the weather.

In The Chinese Room’s own words: “All lines of communication have been severed. All exits are gone. All that remains is to face the unknowable horror that’s come aboard.” Eerie stuff.

”Something has turned your home into a nightmare, where the familiar becomes threatening, and where a noise in the dark fills you with dread. Resist the urge to turn back. Confront the unknown.” How’s that for an opener?

Gameplay

Going by the footage that’s been shown to date, Still Wakes the Deep will feature a gameplay style similar to that of the one in other psychological thrillers; Layers of Fear, Amnesia, and of course, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, to name but a few. To this end, players can full well expect to immerse in an atmospheric world that’ll involve mostly exploration and fact finding. A walking simulator at heart, it’s sure to lean on its storytelling roots, which will no doubt incorporate a great deal of lore and what have you.

“Search for your crew and help them survive if you can,” the description adds. “Run, climb, and swim through the flooding corridors and storm-lashed outer decks. Face a terrifying, unrelenting foe. And pray that, one day, you get to see your family again.”

Development

It’s safe to say that, when it comes to building atmospheric worlds, The Chinese Room pretty much has the blueprint dialed. It was only natural, then, that the acclaimed studio went on to announce yet another segment in its horror anthology. It just so happened to be Still Wakes the Deep that found a place in the catalog. Not that we’re complaining, mind you.

Just to remind you, The Chinese Room has worked on some of the most celebrated horror games in the world. Aside from Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, the team has also been responsible for hits such as Dead Esther and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. So, if you ever had any doubts about Still Wakes the Deep, rest assured that it’s in safe hands.

Trailer

Although the game is still without a release date, The Chinese Room has still managed to keep fans of the upcoming IP on tenterhooks with a full-length trailer. And while it doesn’t quite touch base on the gameplay as such, it has given us a clearer idea of what to expect from its story and setting. But don’t let us spoil it — you can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Still Wakes the Deep will be heading to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store in “early” 2024. It’ll also be coming to Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate as a day-one launch title. Does this mean it’s also coming to PlayStation Plus? Not at this stage, no. That said, there’s nothing to say it won’t be making a debut on Sony’s streaming platform at some point in the foreseeable future, either.

As far as launch editions go, Still Wakes the Deep will only be available as a digital edition on both consoles and PC. Does this technically chalk out the idea of it being rolled out to something slightly more extravagant? Again, it’s hard to say. Whatever the case, The Chinese Room is bound to lift the veil on any special editions, if any at all, much closer to the time of its release.

Has The Chinese Room’s latest project caught your eye? If so, then be sure to check in with the studio’s social feed for all the latest updates here. We’ll be sure to let you know just as soon as a release date comes knocking. Until then, don’t forget to add it to your wishlist on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

So, what’s your take? Will you be getting ahold of a copy of Still Wakes the Deep when it eventually decides to release? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.