Imagine another version of our world, where people have begun to work and even live on the moon. You’re sent there on a job to repair a fault in a lunar base’s automated security network, but when you arrive, the station is empty.
This once thriving tourist attraction is now abandoned and uncomfortably still. As you begin to search for answers, you discover that something else got here before you – and it sees you as a threat.
A Distinctive Horror Experience
Launching later this year on Xbox platforms, Routine is a sci-fi horror game played in first-person with its own original take on space horror. It brings the player into an alternative future, set on an abandoned Lunar base with a design inspired by the cultural vision of the future that was established during the 1980s.
Analogue technology can be found everywhere. Terminal screens flicker and distort imagery in a way that’s instantly recognisable to anyone that’s owned a CRT television; while the halls, corridors and facilities of the base all contain details that feel like they have some kind of purpose, or function.
Investigating the Unknown
Your arrival on the lunar base places you into immediate uncertainty and danger. It’s not clear what’s happened, but it’s obvious something has gone terribly wrong.
By exploring, overcoming obstacles both physical and mental, and accessing critical terminals and locations, you can progress through the various areas of the lunar base and uncover crucial information that may help you piece things together. Or perhaps your discoveries will only lead to further, deeper mysteries.
Introducing the Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T.)
Your investigation is aided by a sci-fi take on the swiss-army knife – the Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T.). This handy bit of tech acts as an essential maintenance tool for the engineers working on the lunar base, allowing them to access terminals, diagnose system problems and navigate its diverse environments. It can also come in handy when exploring dark corridors or staying out of sight.
The Rules of Survival
As a game primarily focused on exploration, immersion and problem-solving, Routine does not feature direct combat as an ideal method of defence. It’s usually safer to run or hide within enclosed spaces, as a way to outmanoeuvre threats or avoid detection entirely.
However, in emergency scenarios, the C.A.T. can be used as a last resort to defend yourself. Just make sure to keep it charged with batteries to use this functionality.
Immerse Yourself Into This World
Routine has been designed to fully immerse players into its world, in order to create a strong atmosphere and firmly establish its specific horror tone. There is minimal UI, deadzone aiming and it’s possible to view your entire body by looking down.
Great attention has also been paid to audio in the game. Influenced by the lo-fi, tangible sounds of 80s technology, the diegetic audio of Routine is all encompassing and firmly grounded in reality, so that players will feel almost as if they are right there on the lunar base.
Made by a Passionate Development Team
Lunar Software is a small team of three based in the UK, driven by a strong passion for horror, science fiction, and atmosphere, which they have poured into Routine. It’s taken some time to bring this vision to life but today they’re very happy to share the news that development on the game has almost finished, and Routine will release later this year on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Windows 10. Routine will also be available to play via Xbox Game Pass from launch day.
ROUTINE
Raw Fury
Curious exploration turns into a need for survival when a lunar base goes completely quiet. Searching for answers puts you face to face with an enemy who is certain the main threat is you. Discoveries lead to deeper unknowns and the only way to go is forward.
EXPLORE: Roam through contrasting sectors of the lunar base, from abandoned malls to deteriorating Living Quarters.
OBSERVE: Investigate your surroundings and uncover crucial information to progress and piece together the events that unfolded before your arrival.
IMMERSE: Full body awareness, diegetic audio, and a minimal UI help create a gripping and atmospheric experience.
OPERATE: Your Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (C.A.T.) is vital. Use it to access critical terminals, navigate the environment and identify clues.
SURVIVE: Run, hide, or attempt to defend yourself against unknown threats using the C.A.T. as a last resort.
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