Frictional Games reveals ONTOS gameplay at gamescom

Frictional Games and Kepler Interactive revealed new gameplay footage for ONTOS, a sci-fi psychological thriller, during the gamescom Opening Night Live event. Positioned as a spiritual successor to SOMA, the game is scheduled for a 2027 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Set in Samsara, a repurposed lunar hotel, players control Aditi Amani as she investigates the cryptic legacy of her father. The gameplay focuses on exploration, environmental puzzles, and moral decision-making. A featured sequence showcases a disturbing experiment where a scientist's consciousness has been uploaded to a biological server powered by a network of interconnected rats.

The title features Academy Award nominee Stellan Skarsgård in the cast. Unlike traditional survival horror, ONTOS emphasizes philosophical questions regarding consciousness and reality, offering open-ended solutions where player choices impact the narrative outcome.