Frictional Games, the studio behind narrative-driven horror titles Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent, has announced that its upcoming project Ontos has been delayed to 2027. The game was previously slated for a 2026 release window.
The delay was communicated via a social media post from the official Ontos account. According to the developer, Ontos represents the studio's most ambitious undertaking to date, encompassing a grander scale and deeper layers of story and gameplay. To fully realize this vision, the team has opted to postpone the game's launch.
Ontos was first revealed in December 2025 during The Game Awards. Frictional Games describes the title as a sci-fi mystery game that features "tactile, systems-driven gameplay" and an immersive narrative. The project also features actor Stellan Skarsgård.
This move follows Frictional Games' previous statements about re-evaluating its focus on horror. While the studio indicated it would "cut back a bit" on pure horror in future projects, it assured fans that its games would retain the signature Frictional feel. The initial reveal trailer for Ontos was noted for its distinct Frictional aesthetic, suggesting the studio's creative identity will remain intact despite the shift in genre emphasis.