Summary

  • Red Barrels revealed that it was hit by a cyberattack, resulting in data being stolen.
  • The developer confirmed that it will be delaying The Outlast Trials' next update as it focuses on enhancing cybersecurity.
  • The Outlast Trials' latest update, Project Lupara, introduced a new killer and gameplay mechanics.

Outlast franchise developer Red Barrels has confirmed in a letter to players that it was the victim of a cyberattack that resulted in stolen data. Currently working on The Outlast Trials, Red Barrels' focus was diverted from the next large update to dealing with the cybersecurity threat.

The most recent update to The Outlast Trials came in July with Project Lupara, which introduced a new killer, Franco “Il Bambino” Barbi. Along with new mechanics, there was also an overhaul of the Programs menu. Project Lupara is the first season for the title, showing commitment from Red Barrels to consistently update the game.

The Outlast Trials Review
The Outlast Trials Review

The Outlast Trials is a delightfully disturbing multiplayer experience, but a lack of polish and scares may leave some disappointed.

By 

Announced on October 2, the team at Red Barrels posted a letter to players revealing it was the victim of a cyberattack earlier in the year. The attack resulted in company data being stolen, and an external cybersecurity company was hired to conduct a full investigation. The investigation concluded no player information was impacted. With the focus of Red Barrels shifted to dealing with the cyber threat, the next update will be delayed as the team works to improve their cybersecurity alongside creating new content.

While it was confirmed that player information wasn't compromised in the cyberattack, no other details about the affected data were mentioned. The breach did impact the internal IT systems of the company, which could cover game designs, employee records, or other games currently in development by the studio. Some members of the fan base, especially solo players, would like the Outlast franchise to return to its roots and focus on a single-player, story-driven title in the form of Outlast 3.

According to the roadmap for The Outlast Trials, a new game mode, new trials, and a Trials Infinite Mode were currently on the horizon. There's no specific date or timeframe for the large updates, but it seems that new content was set to go live each quarter of 2024. This doesn't include regular updates, which last occurred on September 10 with the timed event, Countdown. The frequency of these updates has led to The Outlast Trials becoming a live service game, instead of a multiplayer horror title with less frequent updates.

The Outlast Trials game director Alex Charbonneau said this is the perfect time to start playing the game. Thanks to the Project Lupara update, many of the mechanics and visuals were fine-tuned and polished. The title has tons of content to play through for both solo and co-op players, along with UI adjustments and balance changes the community clamored for.

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7 /10

The Outlast Trials
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Survival Horror
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 72 /100 Critics Rec: 62%
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Released
May 18, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due TO Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Nudity, Drug Reference, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Red Barrels
Publisher(s)
Red Barrels
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Number of Players
4
Genre(s)
Survival Horror
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Fair