What is playdead working on?

In 2010, playdead released Limbo and six years later and some delays, they released Inside in 2016. This means that we are almost coming up on 7 years since the last playdead game and from the studio’s silence, it sounds like we are at least another few away. When looking at what playdead is currently working on, it can be separated into two categories: What we know and What we don’t know.

What We Know

Due to the success of their first two games which were partially self published, the studio has positioned themselves well to work on their own accord. On their website, they state “development does not include crunching towards arbitrary deadlines” Working in an environment like this breeds creativity and hopefully that comes through when we are finally able to experience Game 3 from playdead.

From what little information the studio has given all we know is that playdead is working on a “third person sci fi adventure, set in a remote corner of the universe”.  We also know that the game will be 3D as Arnt Jensen, founder of playdead, has said that he is “tired of the limitations of 2D”’ The images convey an interstellar tone to them.

When the studio shipped Limbo they were about 15 people and as of today they are about 50 according to their website. This does give the idea that their third game will be much bigger in length and scope, it could also be just as short as their other titles but on a grander scale

The game also looks to utilize Unreal Engine 5, as the listing for Experience Landscape Artist is required to “meet technical requirements in Unreal Engine 5”. This is also due to the partnership made with Epic Games

If there is anything to get excited about, it’s that even just looking at some of the images they have shown, the game looks to still have the playdead soul.  While that might seem like a given, it’s important to note that many key figures from the studio have left. Dino Patti, co founder, Jeppe Carlson (lead gameplay designer Limbo and Inside), and Jakob Schmid (Programmer and Composer) all left after Inside shipped.

What We Don’t Know?

Outside of the handful of images that playdead have made public and what few words the studio has spoken about the game setting and genre, there is very little that we know about Game 3. The first two games from playdead were timed Xbox exclusives and they have had what appears to be great success record with Microsoft. This leads to the possibility of another timed Xbox exclusive, although this one would likely be for a much shorter period of time like how Tunic was only a few months exclusive in 2022. If this is the way that playdead goes, there then is a very slim chance that we might get a teaser at the 2023 Xbox & Bethesda Showcase, but there is slight flaw with that theory.

In early 2020, playdead signed an partnership agreement with Epic Games Publishing. The publishing terms from Epic Games align with playdead as there are three main parts: Full Ownership and Control, 100% Funded, Even Profit sharing once dev costs are recouped. It’s still hard to compete with the amount of eyes that Microsoft gets on their summer showcases, so it might still make sense.

If Inside took six years and Game 3 is much larger in scale, then it likely won’t be ready in 2023 but hopefully it’s far enough along that we will get a some type of teaser in 2023.