Video Games
Chapter 5 for ‘The Victor Initiative’ Out Now [Trailer]
Right on schedule, the fifth chapter for Spacepiano Games’ Early Access survival horror title The Victor Initiative is now live on Steam. This new chapter, the 5th of 7 total chapters planned for the game, sees the player reaching the core of the facility known as The Initiative, and discovering its deepest, darkest secrets.
As with previous chapters, this latest addition also features voice cameos. Joining the pre-established cast featuring Sam Lake, Samantha Béart and Inel Tomlinson are Ben Starr (Dead Take, Hades II, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33), Dave Jones (Warhammer 40K: Space Marine II, Baldur’s Gate III, Diablo Immortal) and more.
Gameplay for this fifth chapter is split into two parts, presenting a drastic shift in tone and gameplay near the midway point, with the second half holding plenty of interest for players who’re invested in the story.
As for the remaining future instalments, chapters 6 and 7 are currently planned to release together in June, featuring the end of the story, new guest cameos, the return of some old faces, and more. In the meantime, the devteam plans to have quality-of-life updates in order to bridge the gap between releases.
The Victor Initiative sees you being tasked by a shady government agency to close a “rift” hidden deep within an abandoned research facility located in North Wales, UK. Known as The Initiative, the mysterious government facility rarely communicated with the outside world, but 60 years ago, communication stopped completely. Now, you’ve been tasked to dive back into the nightmare.
Inside The Initiative is a spiralling maze of horrors. Deranged ramblings adorn the walls, loose papers are strewn across the floor, and the terrifying threats that caused this ruin are still in there with you.
Video Games
Inspired by 80s Slashers, Short Horror Experience ‘Dead Stop – No Vacancy’ Launches August 13 [Trailer]
Fresh from their work on last year’s Beneath, developer Camel 101 has announced that their next title, a short, standalone first-person horror experience in Dead Stop – No Vacancy, will launch on Steam on August 13. Accompanying the announcement is the release date trailer, which thanks to the narration, is appropriately hammy.
Players in No Vacancy step into the shoes of Nancy, a hard-edged investigative reporter whose journey to the town of Crestfall takes an unexpected turn. Stranded without directions or a GPS signal, she arrives at the remote Paradise Motel just as daylight begins to disappear. What initially appears to be an inconvenient stop soon becomes an investigation into the motel’s dark history, and whatever may be hiding beneath it.
No Vacancy is the first entry in Dead Stop, a new anthology of short, standalone horror games inspired by classic horror stories and unsettling places. In this case, the game takes inspiration from 80s slasher films.
Rather than relying on cutscenes to tell its story, No Vacancy‘s has the player discover the story through the various objects you examine in the game. As such, you’ll also be dealing with various environmental puzzles built around the motel’s dark history. Completing the vibe is the game’s throwback graphics, which don’t quite have the typical PS1-era aesthetic, but it’s enough to give you that old-school feel.
Ahead of the game’s launch, you can also check out the demo via the Steam page.