When it was confirmed that Striking Distance Studios, the young company formed byDead Spacecreator Glen Schofield, would announce a new game at The Game Awards 2020, many were hoping for a new, modernDead Space. And while the new game may not beDead Space, it might as well be. IntroducingThe Callisto Protocol, Striking Distance Studios' in-development sci-fi horror game. ExpectThe Callisto Protocolon PC and consoles in 2022.
The Callisto Protocolwas announced with a cinematic trailer about a quarter of the way throughThe Game Awards 2020. The two-minute trailer starts in what appears to be a prison of some kind. A prisoner is awoken by a strange banging, as well as a holographic message from the warden asking for all personnel to report to the main security block. The prisoner notices a security robot outside his cell malfunctioning, only for a monstrous creature that may be his cellmate to come up and attack him from behind.
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The setting ofThe Callisto Protocoltrailer is a transport ship named Charon, and as the trailer ends, it shows the Charon arriving at its destination, a location named Black Iron. Thecinematic trailershows a somewhat desolate planet or moon with what could be a prison colony located on it. Clearly, the Charon is bringing something nightmarish with it to Black Iron, whatever it is. And given the nonchalant way the AI approved the ship’s landing, things are only going to get worse.
Schofield followed up the trailer’s showing during The Game Awards 2020 with a message on Twitter. He says that the team atStriking Distance Studioshopes to “make the most terrifying game of all time.” If anyone can deliver on that promise, it’s the creator ofDead Space. Expect to hear more information aboutThe Callisto Protocolin the months to come.
One thing that didn’t get mentioned is Striking Distance’s other in-development game, if it hasn’t been canceled. Striking Distance has been tied to aPlayerUnknown’s Battlegroundsspin-off gamethat’s supposed to be more focused on narrative storytelling. It’ll be interesting to hear if that’s still being worked on or if Striking Distance is now fully focused onThe Callisto Protocol. Needless to say, if it’s still in development, then excitement for it is going to reach new heights.
WhileThe Callisto Protocolmay not bePUBGrelated, that doesn’t mean there are zero ties between the two games. Specifically, Striking Distance was founded byKraftonandThe Callisto Protocolis being published by Krafton. Krafton is also the parent company of PUBG Studio, so the two are connected to a degree. That’s likely where the ties end, however.The Callisto Protocolwill stand on its own.
The Callisto Projectreleases in 2022 for the PC and consoles.
