Ahead of the long-awaited release date announcement for KARMA: The Dark World, Wired Productions and developer Pollard Studio have released the first in what’s touted as a trilogy of trailers that will reveal key aspects of the game’s haunting story, immersive world, and intense gameplay mechanics. Evoking the likes of David Lynch, Hideo Kojima, and Christopher Nolan, the first trailer titled “ROAM” starts off with a quote from Lynch himself. And like what many game developers have already done, the developers for KARMA: The Dark World have acknowledged Lynch for his vision and work.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of director David Lynch. His art has had a profound influence on our game development, inspiring us to pay tribute to and learn from his work,” said Ke Yang, Art Director of Pollard Studio.
Creative Director Yonghe Wang added, “In our studio’s movie nights, we often choose to watch his work. Our games have also been inspired by David Lynch’s creations. Compared to other directors’ styles, David Lynch’s work has always struck a chord. His films always feel sophisticated, carrying a unique, surreal quality. The colors, the camera work, the character nuances; everything about his art feels intentional and profound. While we could never surpass a master like Lynch, we hope to learn from him—to understand how he created the Lynchian aesthetic and to adapt that sensibility into other forms of art. This is something we aspire to.”
In KARMA: The Dark World, you play as Daniel McGovern, an agent for Leviathan Corp’s Thought Bureau. Your task is to dive dive into the psyche of a suspect and unravel their deepest, darkest secrets. But what starts as a routine investigation quickly spirals into a web of lies, manipulation, and personal crisis—forcing Daniel to question not just the case, but his own reality.
KARMA: The Dark World is currently in development for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series.