The Outlast Trials has just dropped a massive update entitled Project Lupara that introduces some highly-requested features, a disturbing new enemy and associated Trial, and an entire roguelike mode, among many other additions. New features such as a non-FOMO seasonal catalog and a daily task system also help the game establish a live service structure that's atypical of co-op PVE games, but it has been welcomed by the player base.
In an interview with The Best War Games, The Outlast Trials game director Alex Charbonneau revealed how Red Barrels never really anticipated that the game would become a full-blown live service title, but overwhelming support from the game's community has led to the team shifting gears. Charbonneau spoke about how some of Project Lupara's features were developed with a live service presentation in mind.
The Outlast Trials: Project Lupara Update Preview
The Best War Games gets an early look at The Outlast Trials' Project Lupara update, which introduces a new difficulty system and a shotgun-wielding villain.
The Outlast Trials Went Live Service By Popular Demand
Initially, the modest plan for The Outlast Trials was to experiment with delivering a co-op Outlast game with just a handful of Trials that might engage players a few times a month. Based on player surveys, however, Charbonneau revealed that players overwhelmingly engaged with these nearly every day. This led to the team completely rethinking their approach to the game's content delivery.
One thing I want to say is we never could have predicted that this would become a live service game. The only reason we're here today is because people demanded that...I love investing my time in a game that is maintained by the developers and there's this back and forth, but the original plan was that it was a multiplayer game with about four or five Trials.
That was the plan initially. It became crystal clear at the closed beta two years ago that we needed to provide a better game loop because we reacted to the fact that people were so happy with the game, and they just wanted more and more. I guess it comes with the fact that it's a bit unique on the market. A game where you have no weapon, survival co-op, all of those factors. It really works. So yes, we became this game because people wanted it to become like that.
Although Charbonneau is himself a fan of live service games, he acknowledged that some gamers are growing fatigued with the model as major studios are financially pressured to develop games engineered to siphon as much time and money as possible. The Outlast Trials is certainly a unique case in today's industry as it's taking this direction sheerly for the fun factor instead of as a business venture.
Project Lupara Is A Major Leap For The Outlast Trials
Charbonneau says that the Project Lupara update is a major step toward achieving a proper live service gameplay loop, particularly when it comes to its new task system. An assortment of daily and weekly tasks give players a reason to return each day and try new things, and such a system also leaves the door open for battle pass-style progression if Red Barrels decides to go that route.
We have a lot of pressure. We had comments from people saying, “When I'm not in the sleep room or in my cell, I don't feel good. I want to go back in the game.” I'm super impressed as well because as you said, this is a very specific kind of game, but our players want to have a reason to come back daily and weekly. That's what we're giving, and no one's pushing us to do that for business reasons. It's truly from the developers listening to the community. They just want more, so those systems work well. I think people are really going to enjoy them.
Additionally, a catalog system has been rolled out that overhauls how players browse and access unlockable cosmetics. This ties into the seasonal catalog system that begins with Project Lupara, and Charbonneau assured that there won't be any FOMO when it comes to the seasonal catalog. Similar to Helldivers 2's Warbonds, they'll never expire. This is definitely an exciting time for Outlast fans, and with more engaging systems and stronger onboarding, it's the best time for new players to step into some of its horrifying Trials.
The Outlast Trials
- Released
- May 18, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Barrels invites you to experience mind-numbing terror, this time with friends. Whether you go through the trials alone or in teams, if you survive long enough and complete the therapy, Murkoff will happily let you leave… but will you be the same?
Set in the era of the Cold War, human guinea pigs are involuntarily recruited by the good folks at the Murkoff Corporation to test advanced methods of brainwashing and mind control. In a world of distrust, fear, and violence, your morals will be challenged, your endurance tested, and your sanity crushed. All in the name of progress, science, and profit.
Ultimately, your goal is to complete Murkoff's therapy and earn the right to be released back into society. In order to do so, you must complete the Trials and the MK-Challenges.
Trials are immersive story driven therapies that take a certain time to complete. Mk-Challenges are shorter therapies occurring in modified or redesigned section of an existing map.
- Developer(s)
- Red Barrels
- Publisher(s)
- Red Barrels
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
