Under The Waves: Everything We Know

Parallel Studio and Quantic Dream have been hard at work sketching a love letter to the nautical realms, aptly titled Under The Waves. In a typical Quantic Dream fashion, the upcoming adventure will promise “a poetic blend of cinematic visuals and poignant storytelling.” In other words, it'll boast a wholehearted narrative and a moral that, quite frankly, will wind up running a lot thicker than water.

So, what do you actually need to know about this so-called Under The Waves chapter, and when can we expect to see it wash ashore on consoles and PC? Well, here's everything we've been able to collect on the matter since first hearing of it. Under The Waves: just what is it, exactly, and is it really worth adding to your wishlist in 2023?

What Is Under The Waves?

Under The Waves is an upcoming adventure game set around the North Sea in a “techno-futuristic” 1970s period. Players, taking on the role of a deep-sea diver, will be tasked with embracing the reality of working in isolation, and also in tandem with a traumatic past that wallows deep within the protagonist's core memories.

Going by Parallel Studio's words, the chosen setting will serve as a ” fitting manifestation of his state of mind”; the longer Stan, the sunken hero, treads the ominous coral caves and nautical crags and crevices, the tougher it will become for him to overcome the traumatic events sewn to his past. Lost in a bottomless abyss of grief, you will need to navigate the seas and take hold of a decision that will shape your future; “stay lost in the depths forever, or break free to the surface and to the rest of his life.”

Story

Under The Waves will base its story around a sole individual — Stan, a professional deep-sea diver who, prior to embarking on a lengthy nautical expedition, faced a life-changing loss. Stuck in an eternal state of grief, the diver will be left to reflect, adapt, and essentially learn to face the several phases of grievance. Easier said than done, mind you, what with the sea being the loneliest place in existence.

“Set in the depths of the North Sea in a techno-futuristic 1970s, professional diver Stan is struggling to overcome a life-changing loss and embrace a new future,” the blurb reads in part. “The isolation of the deep sea is a fitting manifestation of his state of mind, and as Stan retreads further into his self-imposed solitude, he starts to experience strange events far beneath the waves. Stuck between life and death, Stan will have to make the most significant choice of his existence.”

Gameplay

Quantic Dream has described Under The Waves as a narrative-driven adventure game, so don't expect any sort of high-octane combat sequences of abrupt QTEs here. On the contrary, the game will provide a series of obstacles to face—internal roadblocks, as such, that will need your undivided attention as you travel through the darkest depths of the North Sea either by foot, or via your miniature submarine.

“Wander the vast seabed piloting Stan’s submarine and encounter the beautiful wildlife, Stan’s only company while he’s trapped in his own mind,” the description adds. “Explore caves, wrecks, and underwater plants with Stan’s special wetsuit, following the mysterious manifestations of his memories, to find a way back to the surface and save his life. Collect materials and craft equipment that will help Stan navigate further on this self-discovery expedition.”

Thankfully, this isn't your everyday horror, so you'd best remove that lingering thought of accidentally stumbling upon an alien species from your mind altogether. Instead, you'll be exploring submerged facilities in solitude, bar the occasional message you'll receive from your mystery contact up on the surface. With that, rest assured that this isn't in fact a brisk walk through the motions, but more a gentle tiptoe through a poetic journey laced with moral codes and subtle messages pertaining to the human psyche.

Development

Quantic Dream, the creators of Detroit: Become Human, Heavy Rain, and Beyond: Two Souls, first announced its joint venture with Parallel Studio during the Gamescom exhibition last August. Since making it official, not a great deal has been revealed, other than its standard minute-long sneak preview that aired during the time of the showcase.

The good news is, it won't matter which platform you own, as Under The Waves will be made available for all major platforms. If all goes according to plan, then you can expect to see if hit the shelves before year's end. That is, providing Quantic Dream doesn't delay it. Fingers crossed.

Trailer

Fortunately, there is a trailer to accompany the treasure trove of details left behind by Quantic Dream. Published during the Gamescom event back in August of last year, Parallel Studio brought the minute-long preview to a literal sea of eager streamers. Missed the memo? You can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Under The Waves will be heading to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store at some point in 2023. It hasn't been said yet whether or not there'll be a Switch port. If Nintendo is in line to receive an invitation, then chances are it won't be until 2024.

Unfortunately, neither Parallel nor Quantic Dream have lifted the veil on any type of special editions yet. Your only option, really, is to add the standard version to your wishlist over on Steam. Alternatively, you can add it your wishlist on PlayStation or Xbox's respective store pages.

Planning on keeping up to date with Quantic Dream's latest venture? You can follow the official social feed for all the latest pre-launch updates here. If anything interesting pops up ahead of its 2023 release, we'll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Under The Waves when it releases? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.