The Callisto Protocol was already an unforgiving expertise, tasking you with escaping Black Iron Prison amid an outbreak that turns its denizens into horrific biophages – however now it’s providing its sternest problem but. As a part of a free replace, Striking Distance Studios has launched Hardcore Mode – and I caught up with Creative Director Ben Walker to dive into the brand new horrors it brings.
“It’s proper there within the title – Hardcore Mode is simply plain hardcore,” Walker begins. “We designed The Callisto Protocol to be powerful, and with this new mode, we’re giving followers of actually brutal gameplay a complete new stage of problem to grasp.
“We’re dramatically decreasing the variety of enemy drops, giving enemies extra attacking energy, shortening the time it takes for creatures to mutate, and giving objects much less resale worth on the Reforge to make assets even tighter. We’re additionally lowering the harm doled out by the Stun Baton whereas making GRP costs dearer.
“We’re additionally including three new achievements for gamers who’ve what it takes to outlive Hardcore Mode. But don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
Hardcore modes are a giant a part of the survival horror scene – in a style all about getting by the expertise towards all odds, it’s maybe no shock that essentially the most dedicated gamers need these odds made even more durable. But even Striking Distance was stunned by how proficient these gamers might be:
“Hardcore Mode has been on the roadmap for some time,” Walker says, “however after launch, we have been blown away by the variety of people who have been truly beating the sport on the Maximum Security mode [previously the toughest difficulty level] – it validated the idea, and we’re thrilled to present it to gamers. We didn’t pull any punches right here, so we predict it’ll provide our hardcore gamers a hardcore problem.”
But that’s not say this was merely a case of creating the sport a one-death sport over expertise. Striking Distance focused on methods to make this notably completely different to Maximum Security mode, with out merely including a extra synthetic barrier. That means fewer ammo and well being drops, decreased contraband worth, and enemies much more eager to take you down:
“Quite a lot of different hardcore modes are centered on permadeath,” Walker explains. “We wished to lean extra into the turning and creating shortage for objects. This mode is all about pushing gamers’ abilities to the boundaries […] It’s arduous as hell, but it surely’s truthful, and it’s a reasonably superior accomplishment for these that may get by it.”
That begs the query: how many individuals on the studio have truly managed to beat their very own Hardcore Mode?
“We’ve spent a whole bunch of hours playtesting the sport, so a lot of individuals across the studio have overwhelmed the sport on Hardcore Mode,” says Walker, “however I’ve nonetheless discovered myself sweating throughout a number of the encounters. Especially with Two Head. I haven’t thrown my controller but, however I’ve come shut infrequently. Beating it at all times appears like an accomplishment.”
But one key query stays: will you be capable of beat it? Find out immediately.
Hardcore Mode is a free replace, accessible immediately, for The Callisto Protocol on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Also out immediately is the Outer Way Skin Collection, the primary of 4 DLC drops, accessible as a part of the sport’s Season Pass and offered individually. The Callisto Protocol Season Pass is on sale, with 20% off, till February 13.
The Callisto Protocol™ for Xbox Series X|S – Digital Deluxe Edition
KRAFTON, Inc.
$89.99
In this narrative-driven, third-person survival horror sport set 300 years sooner or later, the participant will tackle the position of Jacob Lee – a sufferer of destiny thrown into Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary situated on Jupiter’s moon, Callisto. When inmates start to rework into monstrous creatures, the jail is thrown into chaos. To survive, Jacob should battle his technique to security to flee Black Iron Prison, whereas uncovering the darkish and disturbing secrets and techniques buried beneath the floor of Callisto. Using a singular mix of capturing and close-quarters fight, Jacob might want to adapt his techniques to fight the quickly evolving creatures whereas scavenging to unlock new weapons, gear, and talents to outrun the rising menace and escape the horrors of Jupiter’s Dead Moon.
HORROR ENGINEERING
The Callisto Protocol is a next-generation tackle survival horror from the thoughts of Glen Schofield. Blending environment, pressure, and brutality with terrifying moments of helplessness and humanity, The Callisto Protocol immerses gamers in a pulse-pounding story the place unspeakable horrors lurk round each nook.
UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNITED JUPITER COMPANY
Set on Jupiter’s useless moon Callisto within the yr 2320, The Callisto Protocol casts gamers as Jacob Lee, an inmate in Black Iron Prison. When a mysterious outbreak throws the moon into chaos, Jacob should face his darkest fears to defeat the bloodthirsty creatures that stalk him as he unravels the darkish mysteries on the coronary heart of the highly effective United Jupiter Company.
MASTER BRUTAL, STRATEGIC COMBAT
The Callisto Protocol challenges gamers to grasp an exhilarating mix of hand-to-hand and ranged fight, together with a singular gravity weapon as soon as utilized by Black Iron guards to regulate the jail inhabitants. Players will probably be pressured to rise up shut and private with their grotesque opponents, hacking off limbs, blasting off legs, and getting artistic with no matter is at their disposal to outlive every life-or-death encounter.
EXPERIENCE THE ISOLATION OF JUPITER’S DEAD MOON
One of essentially the most hostile, remoted environments within the universe, Callisto looms giant over Jacob’s determined wrestle to outlive. Players should not solely cope with the horrors of Black Iron Prison, but additionally the centuries-old secrets and techniques that plague Jupiter’s long-dead moon, each above and under the floor.
Pre-order now to get the next digital content material:
– Retro Prisoner Character & Weapons Skin
– Season Pass
The Season Pass consists of:
Outer Way Skin Collection: Bear the armor of the Outer Way, an underground insurgency pitted towards the UJC, as you battle to outlive the horrors of Callisto.
Contagion Bundle: Discover the last word survival horror expertise with a brand new mode, Contagion. With decreased ammo and well being drops, a custom-made issue and permadeath – there are not any second possibilities to flee Black Iron Prison or the horrors lurking beneath the floor of Callisto. The Contagion Bundle additionally consists of 13 new Jacob loss of life animations and the Watchtower Skin Collection.
Riot Bundle: Venture right into a beforehand undiscovered space of Black Iron Prison and battle by waves of brutal enemies. Gather credit to improve your weapons, or forge new ones, and survive the onslaught so long as you possibly can in Riot, an all-new mode. The Riot Bundle additionally consists of twelve new enemy loss of life animations and the Engineer Skin Collection.
Story DLC: Dig deeper into the horrifying secrets and techniques of The Callisto Protocol.
The Callisto Protocol™ for Xbox Series X|S
KRAFTON, Inc.
$69.99
In this narrative-driven, third-person survival horror sport set 300 years sooner or later, the participant will tackle the position of Jacob Lee – a sufferer of destiny thrown into Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary situated on Jupiter’s moon, Callisto. When inmates start to rework into monstrous creatures, the jail is thrown into chaos. To survive, Jacob should battle his technique to security to flee Black Iron Prison, whereas uncovering the darkish and disturbing secrets and techniques buried beneath the floor of Callisto. Using a singular mix of capturing and close-quarters fight, Jacob might want to adapt his techniques to fight the quickly evolving creatures whereas scavenging to unlock new weapons, gear, and talents to outrun the rising menace and escape the horrors of Jupiter’s Dead Moon.
HORROR ENGINEERING
The Callisto Protocol is a next-generation tackle survival horror from the thoughts of Glen Schofield. Blending environment, pressure, and brutality with terrifying moments of helplessness and humanity, The Callisto Protocol immerses gamers in a pulse-pounding story the place unspeakable horrors lurk round each nook.
UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNITED JUPITER COMPANY
Set on Jupiter’s useless moon Callisto within the yr 2320, The Callisto Protocol casts gamers as Jacob Lee, an inmate in Black Iron Prison. When a mysterious outbreak throws the moon into chaos, Jacob should face his darkest fears to defeat the bloodthirsty creatures that stalk him as he unravels the darkish mysteries on the coronary heart of the highly effective United Jupiter Company.
MASTER BRUTAL, STRATEGIC COMBAT
The Callisto Protocol challenges gamers to grasp an exhilarating mix of hand-to-hand and ranged fight, together with a singular gravity weapon as soon as utilized by Black Iron guards to regulate the jail inhabitants. Players will probably be pressured to rise up shut and private with their grotesque opponents, hacking off limbs, blasting off legs, and getting artistic with no matter is at their disposal to outlive every life-or-death encounter.
EXPERIENCE THE ISOLATION OF JUPITER’S DEAD MOON
One of essentially the most hostile, remoted environments within the universe, Callisto looms giant over Jacob’s determined wrestle to outlive. Players should not solely cope with the horrors of Black Iron Prison, but additionally the centuries-old secrets and techniques that plague Jupiter’s long-dead moon, each above and under the floor.
