Ninja Theory’s ever-so-cinematic sequel to 2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, is slated for release on 21 May 2024. The long-awaited title will cost $50 to buy digitally, but Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play it on day one at no additional cost.
While Hellblade is getting a boatload of attention, many are missing out on Microsoft continually expanding the Game Pass library with a strategic mix of genres, with one very promising horror game confirmed to hit the service in June.
A New Horror Game Set On An Oil Rig?
For fans of narrative-driven horror games, Still Wakes the Deep is set to launch into Xbox Game Pass on 18 June 2024. Developed by The Chinese Room, a studio known for critically-acclaimed titles like Dear Esther and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, this first-person game thrusts you into the isolated environment of a North Sea oil rig.
Players take on the role of a Glaswegian electrician named Caz McReary, who is trapped on a damaged rig and hunted by a mysterious creature. There’s no combat, and the studio hasn’t provided further details about the psychological horror game’s story, but the premise does sound unique.
The game was revealed at the 2023 Xbox Partner Preview, and Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be among the first to experience Still Wakes the Deep on launch day. The game is also set to release on PC and PS5.
Game Pass Has Proven Great Value Before Hellblade 2 Drops
At complete odds with the spooky atmosphere of Still Wakes the Deep is Harold Halibut, a whimsical and lighthearted adventure game that’s already available on Game Pass. Released on 16 April 2024, Harold Halibut‘s exceptional claymation art style has captured a lot of attention.
Still Wakes the Deep is the only June addition announced so far, and April has delivered an amazing selection of titles for Game Pass subscribers:
- Ark: Survival Ascended (April 1)
- F1 ’23 (Cloud) (April 2)
- Superhot: Mind Control Delete (April 2)
- Turbo Golf Racing (April 4)
- Botany Manor (April 9)
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (April 23)
- Another Crab’s Treasure (April 25)
- Manor Lords (April 26)
So, while Xbox will launch blockbuster titles like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, and Avowed into Game Pass this year, the AAA drops will be far and few between, and the smaller indie launches are worth paying attention to.
Still Wakes the Deep is shaping up to be an incredible experience for horror fans looking for something new. The eerie aesthetic of an oil rig is something that hasn’t been explored in many horror games before, and the day one Game Pass availability means it has a far better chance of being recognized and played.
