The reveal of a new horror game is always captivating, but the prospect of a title initiating an entirely new, interconnected horror universe truly elevates the intrigue. This ambitious endeavor is precisely what Ire: A Prologue, the forthcoming first-person horror game from ProbablyMonsters, promises to deliver.
True to its name, Ire: A Prologue marks the genesis of the Ire universe, a fresh series partly helmed by CJ Cowan. With a distinguished background as a story lead at Bungie, Cowan was instrumental in shaping the extensive narratives of both Halo and Destiny. His proven skill in world-building is now focused on the Ire universe, beginning with this initial installment. Early impressions from a hands-off demonstration suggest it will strongly appeal to enthusiasts of titles such as Alien: Isolation and Amnesia.
Within Ire: A Prologue, players embody Emily, a young girl caught in a bewildering time-loop aboard a boat in 1986, stalked by a relentless monster. Mirroring the unscripted terror of Alien: Isolation or Amnesia: The Bunker, the creature is an AI-driven adversary, ensuring each encounter is unpredictable. Given the cyclical nature of the gameplay, players will consistently need to employ stealth and cunning, utilizing hiding spots like lockers and vents or blending into shadows to evade the lurking menace.
During the demonstration, brief sightings of the creature—an entirely original monster known as the Drüdgen within the game’s lore—were particularly effective. Cowan shared that the development team drew inspiration from classics like the 1979 film Alien regarding the deliberate concealment of their central antagonist, enhancing its terrifying presence.
Cowan elaborated on this design philosophy, stating, “By keeping the monster largely hidden, we maximize its capacity to frighten players. This approach also allows us to dedicate our development efforts to other crucial aspects of the game.” He further explained the intricate systems built around this concept: “The monster can extinguish lights within its vicinity and even disable your flashlight if it approaches too closely. These environmental changes then become vital audio-visual cues, alerting players to the creature`s proximity, such as a flickering light at the end of a corridor signaling its presence.”
Although visual glimpses of the creature were scarce, its unsettling vocalizations were particularly striking. I described them to Cowan as a gargling or drowning sound. He disclosed the specific inspiration: “The primary audio reference for the monster was the bear from Alex Garland`s 2018 film, Annihilation,” Cowan stated. “It features fascinating, almost vocal sounds, as if the creature is attempting to communicate. Later in the game, there are intriguing moments where it begins to mimic Emily`s voice, directly engaging with her.”
The decision to launch this game as the foundational installment of a broader universe struck me as particularly noteworthy. I inquired about the benefits of such an approach, a topic Cowan addressed with the insight of someone experienced with both conventional and expansive development strategies.
Cowan explained, “Considering the collective experience of our team, we`ve extensively built franchises in previous roles, moving from Halo 2 to Halo 3, ODST, and Reach. While many might assume we had grand blueprints, with Master Chief`s entire narrative arc pre-planned, that wasn`t the reality. Often, upon completing a game, our process involved asking, `What comes next?` and then developing those ideas.” He continued, “Conversely, the leads on this team are exceptionally dedicated to constructing a franchise by progressively revealing its complexities and delving deeper into its lore over time. Consequently, Ire: A Prologue contains numerous elements that serve as foundations for future installments, and I`m incredibly enthusiastic about that potential.”
Cowan playfully evaded a question about whether Ire would pursue an anthology format or a continuous narrative, remarking, “I`m not going to spoil that!” However, he did reveal that the central hub, where Emily regularly retreats, functions as a secure area. Here, players can examine collected items like cassette tapes and photographs. These artifacts, alongside other narrative elements within Ire: A Prologue, appear designed to provide players with vital clues, enabling them to piece together the broader lore of the Ire universe across this initial game and subsequent releases.
Ire: A Prologue is scheduled to launch its expansive narrative universe for PC on October 28, perfectly timed for Halloween. A complimentary demo will be available earlier, starting October 13, on Steam.