After 2 years of silence, Hell is Us makes a surprise reappearance at Sony's State of Play showcase

In April 2022, Deus Ex: Human Revolution art director Jonathan Jacques-Belletete unveiled his new project, a third-person descent into awfulness called Hell is Us, in development at Mordheim: City of the Damned studio Rogue Factor. It was supposed to be out sometime in 2023, and obviously that didn't happen—in fact, not much at all has happened on the public-facing front since then. But now it's back, with a 2025 release target and a debut gameplay trailer that appeared at today's State of Play showcase.

Hell is Us looks like Dark Souls filtered through Chernobylite, a bizarre mix of third-person ARPG and near-future post-war horror set in a game world suffering from two distinct problems: A civil war that's torn an unnamed country apart, and also—and probably worse—a mysterious «calamity» that's given rise to supernatural creatures that cannot be harmed by modern weapons.

So it is that you have a drone over your shoulder, a sword in your hands, and—this is where it gets really interesting—«no map, compass, no quest markers,» according to the Steam listing. «Following your instincts is part of the adventure. Enjoy a unique experience that uses innovative writing and level design to let you make your own decisions and follow your instincts as you explore. Your discoveries are yours alone.»

«With Hell is Us, we decided to break away from conventional norms to offer something radically different,» Belletete wrote in a new post on the PlayStation Blog. «Unlike many modern games that guide players with detailed maps, quest markers, quest journals, and constant assistance, we’ve chosen to eliminate these traditional aids altogether.

»Although this choice is bold, it aims to create a deeply immersive gameplay experience. You’ll need to explore every corner of our world, pay attention to even the smallest clues, and be creative in solving the investigation that lies ahead. We firmly believe that this approach enhances immersion, plunging you into an adventure where every