Acclaimed interactive storytelling developer Sam Barlow has unveiled his next ambitious project following the critically lauded Immortality. The new game, titled Precognition, marks a bold collaboration with filmmaker Brandon Cronenberg, known for his disturbing body horror films Possessor and Infinity Pool. This partnership between two masters of psychological horror promises to push the boundaries of interactive narrative entertainment when it launches in spring 2028.
The announcement reveals that Precognition will continue Barlow’s signature approach of having players scrub through video footage to uncover mysteries, but with a provocative twist. Rather than investigating past events as in Her Story and Immortality, players will peer into the future and potentially alter what they see. This innovative mechanic positions the game firmly in science fiction territory while maintaining the investigative gameplay that has become Barlow’s hallmark.
A New Era for Interactive Horror
Precognition represents a significant evolution in Barlow’s creative vision. His previous works established him as a pioneer of the full-motion video game revival. Her Story, released in 2015, captivated players with its database of police interview clips that gradually revealed a disturbing tale of identity and murder. The game earned numerous awards and demonstrated that FMV games could achieve critical and commercial success in the modern era. Immortality, which followed in 2022, expanded this formula across three fictional films spanning decades, featuring actress Mandy Bloom whose mysterious disappearance players must investigate.
The involvement of Brandon Cronenberg adds another layer of intrigue to the project. Following in the footsteps of his legendary father David Cronenberg, Brandon has carved out his own niche in cerebral, visceral horror filmmaking. His 2020 film Possessor explored themes of consciousness transfer and corporate assassination, while Infinity Pool delved into the dark side of wealth and consequence-free violence. His sensibilities appear perfectly aligned with the psychological horror Barlow typically explores, suggesting Precognition may venture into particularly unsettling territory.
Publishing Partnership and Industry Context
The game will be published through a new label established by Kinetic Games, the studio behind the phenomenally successful supernatural horror game Phasmophobia. This represents Kinetic’s first foray into publishing third-party titles, leveraging the success and horror expertise they developed with their ghost-hunting multiplayer hit. Phasmophobia has sold millions of copies since its 2020 early access launch, making Kinetic a significant player in the horror gaming space. Their decision to publish Barlow’s next work signals confidence in both the project and the continued appetite for innovative horror experiences.
The precognition concept itself has rich roots in science fiction and philosophy. From Philip K. Dick’s stories about precrime and predetermined futures to films like Minority Report, the idea of seeing and potentially changing the future has captivated storytellers for generations. Barlow’s approach appears to place this power directly in players’ hands, creating what could be fascinating paradoxes and moral dilemmas. The ability to witness future events and then attempt to prevent or alter them raises profound questions about free will, causality, and the nature of time itself.
What Lies Ahead for Interactive Storytelling
With a release window of spring 2028, Precognition has a lengthy development period ahead, suggesting an ambitious scope. Barlow’s previous games have typically featured extensive filmed footage with professional actors, requiring substantial production values comparable to independent film projects. The collaboration with Cronenberg may indicate even more elaborate cinematic ambitions for this entry. Half Mermaid, Barlow’s development studio, has built a reputation for meticulous attention to detail in their productions, with Immortality featuring convincing recreations of films from different eras and styles.
The announcement positions Precognition at the intersection of gaming’s ongoing evolution toward more cinematic experiences and the horror genre’s enduring popularity. As streaming platforms and game publishers continue exploring the boundaries between passive viewing and interactive participation, projects like Barlow’s occupy a unique creative space. His games challenge players to become active investigators rather than passive observers, piecing together narratives from fragmented media. Adding the element of future sight and temporal manipulation could create entirely new forms of player agency and moral complexity in interactive storytelling.
Expert Opinion: The partnership between Barlow and Cronenberg represents a potentially groundbreaking fusion of interactive and cinematic horror sensibilities. Given both creators’ track records of subverting expectations and exploring uncomfortable psychological territory, Precognition may redefine what FMV games can achieve artistically. The 2028 release window, while distant, allows for the kind of careful production that elevated Immortality above typical genre fare.