The Outlast Trials was perhaps the scariest video game to date. It will be even scarier soon. Its publisher, the Quebec studio Red Barrels, is adding another layer through an ambitious update that should cause new cold sweats and, even more frightening, ensure its longevity.
The update launched on Thursday addresses the main criticisms heard since the early launch of The Outlast Trials made the horror series go Outlast in multiplayer mode in spring 2023. Regulars will discover new spaces to explore and at least one new chief enemy to face this summer. They will also be able to opt for a game mode called Escalation, where their character is no longer immortal — they have to start all over again, like in the days of the first video games.
What is a good sign is that Philippe Morin, the founder of the Red Barrels studio, creator of the game, arrived late for the interview with The duty because he couldn’t get away from his own adventure. When the creator of a game whose first opus was released 11 years ago is still addicted, we’re probably onto something good.
“It’s quite an update,” says Philippe Morin finally, who adds: “We wonder if we’ll be able to release another one like this one day. I started creating games in 1998 and this is the first time I’ve had so much fun with a game that I produced.”
Cooperating in Horror
The key is surprise, unpredictability. Horror, too. And the fact that Red Barrels was able to create a game in which people—in teams of two to four, if not solo—work together to get themselves out of the constant mess they find themselves in, rather than competing against each other.
This mess is an asylum controlled by the Murkoff Corporation, the enemy entity throughout the game. In a Cold War atmosphere, the sordid establishment tests cruel mind control applications and other disgusting things of the same ilk on travelers. The game then offers a handful of different environments in which the player must complete a series of tasks to advance the story.
The formula hits the mark. The Outlast Trials is sold individually and has sold over 2.2 million copies. According to Philippe Morin, this brings the total revenue generated by the series since its initial release in 2013 to over $100 million.
Not bad for a studio that, not so long ago, had only about ten employees. Today, there are 65.
A game, but also an evolving service
If players are aiming to escape from a bloody madhouse, Red Barrels must find the business model that will propel its product to the same level as the Fortnite, League of Legends and other games in evolving service (“ live service games ” in English). After all, The Outlast Trials shares the same formula as these great titles.
At their core, these games create a constant need to come back to them as often as possible. The most addicted players then buy virtual goods in-game or pay to add bits of environment or downloadable content. This has its pros and cons. And, like everything in the video game world, the critics are loud and clear. So it forces Red Barrels to tread carefully to find the right financial balance.
One thing is certain, the publisher from Old Montreal seeks above all to satisfy players who revisit their game most often.
“There is no magic formula,” says Philippe Morin. “We’re going to try things. We could lower the price of the game and ask for more for in-game purchases. We’ll see what players are willing to accept. We’re trying to see how far we can increase the number of players present in the game at the same time. That should dictate a little what the best model to adopt would be.”
An independent studio with healthy finances can afford a certain largesse without becoming akin to mad scientists like those in The Outlast Trials. Red Barrels has taken the concept of experimentation a step further: Outlast gin can be found at the SAQ. A documentary was shot during the game’s production. A film or short series inspired by the storyline is reportedly under consideration.
Above all, Red Barrels would like to be able to sit back a little on the success of The Outlast Trials to launch the development of a second title, independent of the first. “Within a year, we think we can develop a new product,” explains Philippe Morin. “We will try to build customer loyalty. The ultimate goal is to have two games and two teams in parallel. We want to continue to grow, but at our own pace, according to our needs.”
Certainly, it will take much more to scare the creators of The Outlast Trials…
The game is available on PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, GeForce Now, and Microsoft Windows.