Still Wakes the Deep is set to be released on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. This was confirmed by Xbox and The Chinese Room in the official release date reveal trailer that aired during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase earlier this year. The game will be available on Game Pass, Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The Still Wakes the Deep is set to offer more of the gameplay we’ve come to expect from The Chinese Room: a first-person narrative experience with light puzzle solving and plenty of unnerving encounters. Players will navigate the claustrophobic, eerie environments of an oil rig in the North Sea, where the sense of isolation is palpable. With no weapons or special powers at Caz’s disposal, the gameplay focuses on exploration and survival. Players must rely on their wits and determination to solve environmental puzzles, avoid hazards, and uncover the story piece by piece.
The tension is heightened by the need to stay vigilant for unexpected dangers, creating a constant atmosphere of suspense. The game really focuses on its design elements and draws inspiration from influential figures like Kubrick, Loach, and Dargento, as well as 1970s aesthetics.
This well-defined aesthetic goes hand in hand with the fidelity of Unreal Engine 5, which includes real-time lighting and VFX system that generates the weather effects necessary to fully capture the experience of being trapped in the middle of the North Sea.
The engine’s capabilities allow for highly detailed and immersive environments, with dynamic weather changes that affect gameplay by altering visibility and creating new challenges. Keeping players on edge as they delve deeper into the game’s mysteries.