Redlock Studio, the developer behind Hypnos and Shattered: Tale of the Forgotten King, is bringing its atmospheric adventure BLACKSHARD to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on September 22. Originally released on PC, the short exploration-focused experience is part of the studio’s Maze Chronicles universe.
Set within an unsettling megastructure known as the Labyrinth, BLACKSHARD places players in a mysterious first-person world filled with liminal spaces and unanswered questions. The Labyrinth is a semi-open environment that encourages exploration and lets players find their own route through its strange surroundings.
As you explore, you’ll uncover shards of memory left behind by those who came before. The choices you make, including the things you decide not to do, can influence how your journey unfolds. Players will ultimately have to decide whether to accept the Labyrinth as it is or take steps to change its strange and seemingly immutable order.
That choice is reflected in the game’s powers, which can be used to transform the Labyrinth or leave its cold, complex structure intact. The experience is further supported by a soundtrack from French multimedia artist and composer ALT236, combining ambient, retro and dreamlike electronic sounds to complement the game’s surreal atmosphere.
With its unusual setting, exploration-driven gameplay and emphasis on player choice, BLACKSHARD offers another journey into the unsettling world of Maze Chronicles when it arrives on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on September 22.