'Uniquely dark' horror game Ritual Tides announced for consoles, PC

Rockstar Games has announced Vertpaint, a studio comprised of former top developers from studios such as CI Games and TT Games. Ritual tides“photorealistic” horror game with “unique dark vision”. It will launch for PC in Q3 2025, with “all major consoles” following shortly after.

“At Vertpaint, we've built a reputation as innovators among developers,” James McLeod, CEO and creative director of Vertpaint, said in a press release. “With Ritual tideswe can't wait to show the world why, bringing it all to life with meticulous animation and artful concept as we take players on a run that combines the appeal of true horror and original character design.”

Game review via Vertpaint:

In Ritual tidesplayers will find themselves washed up on a beach with the sole objective of uncovering the island's terrifying secrets. Horribly designed enemies are lurking, danger is around every corner, and it's best that you hide or run. Ritual tides introduces a “gun” but not in a typical way, honestly setting it apart from other games in this space. More on this in the future, no spoilers for now!

Ritual tides is set to make waves in the horror genre and is being developed by a proven team of top talent from the likes of former Rockstar Games, CI Games, TT Games and more. Talent knows no bounds at Vertpaint, with glowing reviews from industry legend and director Jonathan Berube, who calls the team “The Seal Team of Game Development.”

Ritual tides It's being developed using what the team describes as a “two-stream” approach, meaning design and game mechanics are prioritized alongside art research and development. As avid gamers and horror fans alike, the team is crafting something truly memorable and sure to stick in players' minds long after the credits roll. Enemy variation is central to the development ethos, and unlike other horror-oriented titles, Ritual tides each one will provide a series of terrifying encounters more uniquely than the last.

As if all of that wasn't compelling enough, Vertpaint is purely independent and uncompromising in its unique dark vision. Ritual tideswithout any external publisher input that could potentially hinder the process. The team also promises to set the visual quality bar for 2025 Ritual tides unlocks a near photorealistic immersive story to players.

Check out the teaser trailer below.

Teaser trailer

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