Callisto Protocol arrived on December 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but that release news is only part of the bigger story about Glen Schofield’s new project. Early footage and a handful of images hint at a game that echoes the dread and brutality fans associate with Dead Space, yet threads its own dark atmosphere through the experience. The visuals skew toward a stark, oppressive mood: a space station, a harsh sense of realism, terrifying monsters, and plenty of red-tinged violence.
Developed by Striking Distance Studios, the horror and science fiction title unfolds on Jupiter’s moon, a desolate outpost in the year 2320. The story follows Jacob Lee, a prisoner in Black Iron Prison who must fight for survival as a mysterious epidemic ravages the moon. Guards and inmates alike transform into the fearsome Biophage, turning the facility into a maze of danger where every corridor hides a new threat and every shadow could conceal a secret.
Crafting horror moments in games is notoriously tricky. To build the Callisto Protocol world, the team describes a process they call horror engineering—a method designed to generate unforgettable scares. The aim is to construct environments thick with suspense, brutality, desperation, and humanity so intense that players feel unnerved and compelled to continue despite the risk of danger, according to the studio’s executive director.
Schofield notes that true terror requires a carefully balanced system of combat. The team developed a strategic approach that forces players to think before they charge a foe. The mix of melee and gunplay is expanded by a unique gravity weapon known as the GRP, which reshapes encounters and invites clever tactics in close quarters.
Lighting plays a pivotal role in shaping the game’s atmosphere. The developers dedicated considerable time to crafting illumination that makes the player feel awe while obscuring what lies beyond the next shadow. Sony’s PlayStation 5 features—three‑dimensional audio, acoustic ray tracing, and diffraction—are leveraged to push immersion further. The result is an experience where the sounds of Biophage roaming in long, dark corridors and the clamor of malfunctioning prison machinery contribute to a sense of isolation and confinement for the player.
Extensive attention to tension is another hallmark of the game’s pacing. The design team describes a deliberate rhythm: scares are timed so players have moments to recover, with occasional sequences that deliver two or three scares in rapid succession. Fans are encouraged to view the trailer, which showcases the game’s claustrophobic settings and visceral enemy design.