Frictional Games, the studio behind critically acclaimed titles such as Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent, has announced a delay for its upcoming horror game, Ontos. Originally slated for release this year after its announcement at The Game Awards 2025, Ontos is now scheduled to launch in 2027. The developer cited the need for additional time to fully realize the game's scope and narrative depth.
Ontos is set on Samsara, a repurposed moon hotel, where players assume the role of Aditi Amani, an engineer summoned by her father, a scientist who has become a prophet. The game's premise involves a fractured reality on Samsara, requiring Amani to uncover disturbing truths about her father's past and the nature of existence. Frictional Games is aiming for an immersive narrative experience complemented by tactile, systems-driven gameplay. This includes mechanics such as scavenging for materials, manipulating complex machinery, and interacting with analog systems. Samsara itself is described as a vast, labyrinthine environment featuring surreal biomes, diverse factions, and numerous threats.
In a statement shared via social media, Frictional Games explained that Ontos is "our most ambitious game to date, both in terms of its size and scale, and in the depth and layers of our story and gameplay." The studio believes that more time is necessary to deliver on this vision. The delay will allow the team to refine the game and ensure it meets their high standards.
Ontos is planned for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2027.