The first official title released by Striking Distance Studios, The Callisto Protocol hit shelves and online stores early in December. Developed by Dead Space creator Glen Schofield, his latest title further explores the terrifying nature of being trapped in a remote corner of the solar system while horrifying monsters hunt the player at every turn. While this latest game takes a more melee-focused approach to combat, the Dead Space influence is still present and noticeable throughout its campaign.
One way that influence shows itself is through the many hidden secrets and Easter eggs that are hidden throughout Black Iron Prison, where The Callisto Protocol is primarily set and where its hero, Jacob Lee, is trying to escape from. There are hidden rooms with bits of lore, nods to the previous voice work done by the game's lead actors, as well as references to some other classic sci-fi horror films. Here are all the hidden secrets lurking in the darkest corners of Callisto's prison colony.
8 Bloody Graffiti
Right off the bat, there is a fairly obvious Dead Space Easter egg in the early goings of the game. This bloody graffiti also made an appearance in a trailer for The Callisto Protocol, but for those who didn't catch it; yes, it's a reference to the first Dead Space.
In The Callisto Protocol, the graffiti reads "Shoot the tentacles," but it refers to a similar bit of bloody graffiti that appears at the beginning of Dead Space which reads "shoot their limbs." In both cases, the graffiti doubles as a bit of advice for players to follow when facing off against the game's horrifying enemies.
7 The PUBG Connection
When it was first announced, The Callisto Protocol was intended to be set in the same universe as the groundbreaking battle royale shooter Player Unknown's: Battlegrounds. About half a year before its release, those plans fell through, and the two games separated their universes as Striking Distance felt they had a potential franchise on their hands.
However, that didn't stop them from including a nod to their original universe buddies in their game. About a third of the way in, players will come across a crafting bench that has the iconic PUBG helmet resting on it. The helmet is in rough shape, which is understandable given it's been sitting around for around 300 years by the time The Callisto Protocol takes place, but there's no mistaking it.
6 Clarke City
Another Dead Space Easter egg, although this one is both harder to spot and much less direct. Only the most eagle-eyed players will spot this little detail without walking right past it. Heck, it's possible to look right at this Easter egg and not see it.
Throughout Black Iron Prison are advertisements for vacation getaways, which help build the atmosphere by drawing attention to how absurd a vacation sounds while trying to survive an outbreak of supernatural monsters. One of those posters is an advertisement for a place called Clarke City. It just so happens that the protagonist of the Dead Space series is named Isaac Clarke. Could it be a coincidence? Sure, but it seems unlikely, given the people that worked on both games.
5 Supply B426
This is one of two secret rooms hidden throughout Black Iron Prison. The first room is found in Chapter 3: Aftermath. When players enter a room called Workshop B415 they'll notice a door inside labeled Supply B426. However, the door to that room will be locked.
There is a way inside Supply B426, but it takes a bit more exploring to get there. Next to the Supply B426 door is a trail of blood leading to a vent. If players follow that trail through the vent and down a corridor, they can drop to a path that leads to the back entrance to Supply B426. Inside are some supplies and an audio log with some story details.
4 Below The Power Reactor
The game's other secret room is found later on, in Chapter 6: Below, as players make their way to the prison's power reactor. Before entering the control room, players will notice an opening in a nearby destroyed wall marked by a Kallipolis symbol.
Players can head through that opening and drop down until they enter a hallway covered in some gross mutations. Be cautious here; there are a group of blind enemies just waiting for the player to make a sound. At the end of that corridor, players will find the entrance to the second secret room. Don't rush in; there is a hidden alien nest underneath the room's central table. Shoot that, and players can collect more resources and another audio log, and will unlock The Commonality achievement.
3 Predator In The Jungle
About midway through Chapter 4: Habitat, Jacob will find himself in a jungle-like area that makes up the titular habitat. Almost as soon as they enter, players will hear enemies growling and roaring in the trees. It's pretty terrifying since these enemies can't be seen until they jump out of the foliage.
However, a little way through the area, players who are paying attention will pick up on a different sound emanating from the jungle. It's similar to the sounds the monsters make but not identical. What it actually sounds like is the growl of a Yautja, the alien species that make up the hunters in the Predator franchise. The idea that a Predator is lurking somewhere in Black Iron Prison is almost more terrifying than any of the monsters that Jacob actually encounters.
2 Five By Five
This is another reference to a classic sci-fi horror monster, but in this case, we're talking about Xenomorphs. Or at least, we're talking about the movies they appear in, specifically about 1986's Aliens.
The Callisto Protocol has an achievement for reaching the Hangar deck titled "In the Pipe, Five by Five," which just so happens to be a direct quote from Ferro, a dropship pilot in Aliens who says this exact line as she begins her descent to LV-426, the planet on which the film takes place. A good rule of thumb: if something is sci-fi, it probably contains an Alien reference. The series is just that iconic.
1 Darth Maul
One of the lead actors in The Callisto Protocol is Sam Witwer, who has his fair share of sci-fi acting credits. There is the cult classic Days Gone, but Witwer has also made appearances in several Star Wars entries. He played Starkiller in The Force Awakens games, but he also voiced Darth Maul on The Clone Wars TV series.
Witwer's character in The Callisto Protocol, Leon Ferris, has a connection to his Clone Wars character. According to his biodata log, Ferris was born in the city of Rimohtad, Iowa. That city doesn't actually exist, but it just so happens to be the reverse spelling of Dathomir, which is the birthplace of Darth Maul. It's a cool nod to Witwer's past sci-fi work as he continues his expansive acting career across films, TV, animation, and video games.
The Callisto Protocol was released on December 2nd, 2022, and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.