The breakout horror hit Until Dawn is finally getting a sequel after more than a decade, with PlayStation developer Firesprite unveiling the first trailer for the upcoming PS5 title during June’s State of Play.
A bunch of ghost-hunting influencers who fake scares for their channel get sent to a warm, tropical, abandoned island with real, untold horrors. Can they survive until dawn?
Search for likes turns to fight for survival
In the new game, a crew of self-styled paranormal investigators who run the channel Dead True land a major network deal to document an abandoned tropical island.
While their content has mostly been staged in exchange for clicks and views, the search for their next viral hit may prove to be their last as they come face-to-face with real, centuries-old horrors that lie beneath the island’s sunny exterior.
Not a “true” sequel
Fans had long speculated that the next installment would pick up where the original left off.
Theories persisted for years thanks to two cryptic endings: Sam (Hayden Panettiere) awakening to a disturbing vision, and Josh (Rami Malek), now part Wendigo, attacking responding police officers.
Despite those lingering threads, Until Dawn 2 is being positioned as a standalone story.
Whether members of the original cast will return remains unclear.
Well, except for the creepy Dr. Hill played by Peter Stormare, who was very much present and playing the same enigmatic psychologist in the trailer for the new game.
Everyone can live. Everyone can die.
True to the Until Dawn formula, the story will rely heavily on the players’ decisions.
One click could mean the end of a life.
Firesprite says relationships between characters will play an even greater role in the game’s Butterfly Effect system, influencing how the story unfolds.
“Part of our mission from day one has been honoring that core DNA: character drama, tough choices, and those unforgettable horror moments that made the first game so special,” Firesprite wrote on the PlayStation blog.
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Wendi-gone?
The Wendigos that terrorized the crew in the original game may be gone, but the trailer suggests a new collection of nightmares is waiting in the shadows.
One thing is certain: gamers are in for another round of devastating choices, gruesome deaths, and desperate attempts to keep everyone alive until sunrise.
More details soon
Based on the trailer, the new cast includes Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things), Neil Newbon (Baldur’s Gate 3), Camila Senna (Música), Hannah Kepple (Cobra Kai), Tanner Buchanan (Cobra Kai), Gavin Leatherwood (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and of course, Peter Stromare.
More details on gameplay and the full character lineup are expected in the coming months, with Until Dawn 2 scheduled to launch exclusively on PlayStation 5 next year.
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