Jukai Studio, developer of the psychological horror game Stray Souls, recently announced that it has officially shut down due to several reasons. Some reasons include the closure of its publisher Versus Evil, poor sales and reviews, and constant attacks by a “cyber prosecutor”. The developer claims some fans and communities were also “tormented with unwanted messages and emails” The developer also notes that “the matter is now in the hands of our lawyers, so we cannot speak about it any further.” Stray Souls launched on October 25 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
An update regarding Jukai Studio future. pic.twitter.com/T0tyAiUwus
— Jukai Studio (@JukaiStudio) December 22, 2023
The game’s details via the publisher:
Enter a world of nightmares in this third person, action-horror, inspired by the classics of the genre. Fight terrifying creatures, solve mind-bending puzzles, and unravel a horrid family secret to expose the chilling truth behind your existence.
Unlock the secrets hidden within the haunted town of Aspen Falls, featuring gruesome enemy encounters, epic bosses, cunning puzzles, and a deep story where not everyone is who they seem. Play as Daniel—an average teenager whose life is forever changed after inheriting the home of his estranged grandmother and meeting a mysterious woman with intimate knowledge about his family, the house, and its shocking connection to his past. The gameplay elements inspired by classic horror combat with soulslike precision, put a fresh spin on the modern action-horror genre.
Next-Gen Horror
Experience sheer terror like never before with the raw combined power of the Unreal Engine 5 and MetaHuman technology. Advanced facial animations capture a wide range of human emotion, creating a whole new level of photorealism! Dynamic lighting and weather bring Aspen Falls to life in eerie detail, from the peeling wallpaper of Grandma’s house to the dense reaches of a fog-covered forest and beyond!
Deep, Immersive Story
Welcome to Aspen Falls, a small town plagued by a sinister curse devouring everything in its path. After inheriting the home of his estranged grandmother on his 18th birthday, Daniel thinks he’s won the lottery, but soon discovers luck had nothing to do with it. He’s now at the center of a dark ritual that threatens his very existence and must embark on a terrifying journey to uncover the secrets of his past.
Fight or Flight Combat
The choice is yours. Daniel is not a trained soldier. Grab a weapon and stand your ground or run to safety and save your health and ammo for one of the game’s tough bosses.
Mind-Bending Puzzles
Test your powers of deduction and problem solving on classic-style puzzles with a modern facelift.
Mesmerizing Soundtrack
Haunting and ethereal at times. Hellacious and unnerving at others. Get lost in the captivating original score by veteran indie composer Peter Wicher on your journey across Aspen Falls.
Key Features
Explore the town of Aspen Falls and surrounding areas to uncover a malevolent plot set in motion at Daniel’s birth.
Immerse yourself in Daniel’s story. Choose responses at key moments through branching dialogue options, shaping Daniel’s tone and personality.
Fight hordes of nasty creatures or run for your life. Simplified combat without massive loadouts puts the focus on strategizing combat tactics and resource management.
Solve dozens of clever puzzles with out of the box solutions to test your wit.
Randomized systems ensure that enemy encounters, item locations, changing weather patterns, and strange phenomena all occur at various places, making each playthrough unique.
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