Layers of Fear News

Don't miss our livestream with Layers of Fear devs this Thur. evening (CET)! Get exclusive game insights and how UE5 intensified its horror atmosphere. Can't tune in? The recording will be available for public viewing.

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In the upcoming last installment of the Layers series, a fresh character will take center stage — the Writer. What details about the character can we disclose to you at this moment? Set in the 1950s and 1960s America, the story follows a determined African-American woman's quest to garner worldwide recognition through her literary prowess.

One day, the Writer relocates to a far-flung lighthouse. Intent on crafting her lifetime masterpiece, she encounters more than she bargained for in this isolated surrounding.



The looming abandoned lighthouse — a place of unknown origin, erected by an equally mysterious entity. Its dark atmosphere is palpable, with hints of a ghostly entity lurking within its walls. The Rat Queen's eerie apparition and haunting painting only add to the enigma.

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Despite the eerie environment, our heroine is determined to complete her book, and nothing will stand in her way. But we see the cost of her ambition, as her relationship with her beloved son grows increasingly strained, and ominous signs suggest that something terrible has befallen their once-strong bond.

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With every moment spent in the lighthouse, darkness creeps closer to our Writer. Her mission to uncover its secrets will unravel hidden truths about her identity and unearth the true nature of a cryptic being that lurks within its haunted corridors.

See for yourself how the Writer’s fate resolves. Find out the true identity of the mysterious figure pulling the strings behind all three artists in June.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1946700/Layers_of_Fear/

Significant changes have been made to the Layers of Fear game, including the addition of a lantern, which we believe will quickly become appreciated for its usefulness and its impact on shaping the vibe of the spooky Victorian mansion.



The lantern serves as an essential tool for players to fend off dangerous threats, decipher puzzles, and navigate dimly lit corridors in search of details hidden in the old house. Not limited to its utilitarian nature, the lantern is also a mood-enhancing device that helps to create a tense atmosphere as you explore the dark nooks and crannies filled with the goo-like substance of the old mansion.

The tool's light can temporarily fend off the malevolent entity lurking in the shadows as you make your way through the game. However, you must use it wisely as it consumes resources and takes time to recharge. During your game, the lantern serves three fundamental functions which we'll now take a look at.

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DETER THE EVIL

Deep in the haunted halls of the first Layers of Fear, a sinister presence lurks in the shadows. Players soon discover that the malevolent entity is vulnerable to intense light, and in their desperation for protection, they seek to utilize this weakness to their advantage. Using the lantern to create intense light, players can keep themselves out of harm's way.

RIDDLE-SOLVING

Some of the puzzles in the eerie walls of the old mansion have changed. The lantern has now become a key tool in unlocking the secrets of the Victorian mansion.

LIGHT UP THE DARKNESS
 
The eerie and quiet corridors of the old mansion can sometimes make you feel paralyzed. In these situations, illumination can be used simply for reassurance and to combat the feeling of dread.

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During GDC testing, players expressed great delight in using the lantern to re-discover every inch of the familiar locations from the original game. This novelty, we believe, has made the game more immersive and realistic, which is what it's all about, after all.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1946700/Layers_of_Fear/

Layers of Fear, our flagship franchise, will receive a new installment and it is expected to be the crowning work of the series.



Our upcoming June premiere cannot be easily categorized as a remake or remaster. Instead, it can be best described as a "reimagination". The team's goal was to pay tribute to the two classic games while also expanding the lore with a fresh story that sheds new light on the events of the first and second Layers.



Layers of Fear combines these elements:

• A full-fledged, revitalized Layers of Fear from 2016
  
• A full-fledged, revitalized Layers of Fear 2 from 2019
  
• The original DLC “Inheritance”
  
• A new protagonist: the Writer
  
• A new story: the Lighthouse
  
• Bonus new content: the “Final Note” chapter
  
• Lantern, a new item that changes the game mechanic
  
• ...and that's not all (we have our secrets) ;)
  

An engrossing story of the Writer set in a lonesome lighthouse will tie the intricate stories of all Layers chapters together. Stay tuned for our next news, as we cover the mechanics of the lantern.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1946700/Layers_of_Fear/

From now on, we are just counting down the days until Layers of Fear launches in June. Recently, our team had the opportunity to attend the San Francisco Game Developers Conference where we publicly showcased a demo of the game for the very first time.



Our first opportunity to gauge player reception of the new Layers of Fear was fruitful. We were able to determine what elements players gravitated towards, what evoked emotion, and ultimately, their overall impressions.


Despite the bustling convention being far from ideal for immersing oneself in a haunted mansion, game testers were still deeply moved by our latest Layers of Fear installment. Attendees at our booth were completely engrossed in the game, exploring every nook and cranny of the intricately detailed mansion, scrutinizing every item and note they found, and admiring the overall design of the game.


Reviewers noted that the game's new lighting was a standout feature, with its photorealism and ability to evoke a sense of horror being a huge asset. Additionally, players were drawn to the new lantern feature that not only changed the gameplay but also added to the game's eerie atmosphere.


Overall, we left the convention feeling satisfied with our game's reception. Would you like to try it out for yourself before release?

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1946700/Layers_of_Fear/