Sometimes, a game seems so deeply terrifying to me that I vow never to play it. That being said, when others get the same feeling they tend to gravitate towards the horror instead of fleeing. And those who love first-person narrative horror games should definitely keep an eye out for Still Wakes the Deep, originally announced at an Xbox showcase earlier this year. The game is part of today’s PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted event, as its composer has been revealed.
I’m not entirely sure developer The Chinese Room needs an introduction, but here it is anyway. It is the games studio behind narrative hits like Dear Esther and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. It was also recently revealed to be the new developer for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 following Paradox Interactive removing original developer Hardsuit Labs from the project, which was originally meant to be released in 2020. Needless to say, the team behind Still Wakes the Deep is one to be trusted.
Today, it was announced that two-time BAFTA award-winning composer Jason Graves would be taking helm of the score for Still Wakes the Deep. Graves has been composing for video games for over 20 years. His credits include series such as Tomb Raider, Far Cry, and Moss; his horror credits include the Dead Space franchise, Until Dawn, and The Dark Pictures Anthology. Atmospheric horror can go very very wrong, but with this developer-composer combination I expect it will work out.
Originally unveiled as part of the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted event, this five-minute documentary details Graves’ involvement in the sounds and the score of the game.
Creating the sounds of an oil rig is no easy feat, so Graves commissioned an instrument (below) known affectionately as “The Rig.” The metal structure takes the shape of an oil rig and creates the unearthly, metallic sounds heard throughout the game’s score. Graves also used a Moog Model D synthesiser to add another layer of eeriness.
Still Wakes the Deep has players take on the role of an off-shore oil rig worker. They are fighting for their life through a vicious storm, perilous surroundings, and the freezing North Sea Waters. There is no line of communication. There is no escape. There is only an unknowable horror that has come aboard.
Developed by The Chinese Room and published by Secret Mode (both are part of Sumo Digital), Still Wakes the Deep will be released for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series in 2024.
