Video Games
Keep Your Partner Alive in Asymmetrical Multiplayer Title ‘Follow Us’ [Trailer]
Game Atelier is offering up something slightly different with its recently-released 2-player co-op asymmetrical multiplayer horror title Follow Us. Currently out now in Early Access on Steam, the game is described as a hilarious and horrifying relationship stress test, where one player explores the environment, while the other guides them remotely, trying to keep their partner alive.
In what sounds like a dystopian (yet honestly, not entirely unrealistic) future, people live entirely through their screens, as going outside has become too risky. You stream for a shady channel called “Follow Us,” ready to do anything to keep your audience’s attention. Your goal is simple: entertain the masses, and stay alive.
Each round lets players choose whether they want to play as EXY the Explorer, who bravely navigates a haunted map, or OPY the Operator, who hangs back to guide EXY and hack the playspace to protect them from the various creatures and hazards in the level. Built on communication rather than complex mechanics, Follow Us creates tension by combining two opposite forces: isolation and connection with your partner.
Every level explores a different kind of fear. EXY faces danger and isolation in the field, while OPY endures helplessness and relentless pressure from the van.
And in keeping with the “friend” theme, Follow Us offers a rarity amongst titles like these: two people can play with just one copy of the game. Of course, the person who doesn’t own the copy of the game will need to download the Friend’s Pass in order to play, but you get the idea.
Follow Us will remain in Early Access for about 6 to 12 months, with the plan to expand the game with new haunted locations, additional enemy types, and improved co-op systems based on community feedback.
Overshadowing the announcement of Ninja Theory’s third entry in the Hellblade series earlier this month were reports that the developer was facing possible closure by Microsoft, alongside South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games and Double Fine. Now according to a new story by GamesBeat, another developer under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella is potentially facing closure in Undead Labs, who are currently working on State of Decay 3.
Earlier this month, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma had announced that Microsoft was in the process of ‘resetting’ Xbox. That resulted in a report by Bloomberg during Summer Game Fest that revealed that multiple developers were negotiating with Microsoft to spin off of Xbox to avoid closing down. Now, according to the GamesBeat report, Undead Labs is now part of that group of developers negotiating to be bought to avoid layoffs.
The article states that Undead Labs could lose 110 jobs if it were shut down, while Compulsion could lose 90 jobs, Ninja Theory could lose 135 jobs, and Double Fine Productions could lose 100 jobs.
Other developers and publishers at Microsoft also reportedly face cuts, including Blizzard, id Software and Bethesda.
Undead Labs was acquired by Microsoft back in 2018, with State of Decay 3 being announced in 2020. News on the development of the game was quiet until 2024, when a new trailer was released. Updates on the game again were hard to come by until last January when then-Xbox Game Studios lead Craig Duncan revealed that development was still very much alive. That was followed up this month with an official announcement that State of Decay 3 would be coming next year to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store.