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"Scarlet Lake" is a retro survival horror game where nothing is as it seems. In it, players control Ben Murphy, a detective sent to investigate strange events in a small town, only to find himself trapped in a nightmare surrounded by terrifying creatures. Developed by Nocturnal Interactive, the game does not yet have an official release date. In a conversation with the studio, we learned more about the development process and their inspirations.

When asked about the inspiration behind the creation of Scarlet Lake and its retro survival horror elements, the studio explained: "I have always loved survival horror and have a strong connection to games from the late '90s and early 2000s. Recently, there has been a resurgence of the survival horror genre with many retro-inspired games coming out. I wanted to add my own take on this subgenre and create a game that includes all the mechanics I would want as a player. Originally, the game had no combat and was going to be a pure detective story similar to Disco Elysium. However, as development progressed, I couldn't stop seeing the similarities to Resident Evil 4, so I decided to go in that direction while loosely keeping the story."

Regarding the design choices that contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere and the terrifying creatures Ben Murphy encounters, the studio commented: "Most design choices are fueled by the retro '90s aesthetic while also drawing inspiration from various sources such as John Carpenter's 'The Thing' and Ridley Scott's 'Alien.' The overarching goal is to create a game inspired by Resident Evil but with creatures that move away from the typical zombie design. This is why I also try to employ a lot of body horror in everything from the animations to the textures."

Although the game does not yet have an official release date, we asked about the current milestones and development stages for Scarlet Lake. "The game is set for a release around Q1 2025, with the possibility of moving earlier depending on progress. The next big milestone will be the release of the demo for players to get their hands on towards the end of the month (August), with a view to it being earlier depending on progress. Any updates will be posted on social media and also Scarletlake.net to keep everyone informed."

Regarding expectations for the reception of Scarlet Lake once it is released and plans for post-launch content, the studio revealed: "I hope that for the core fanbase and retro horror enthusiasts, Scarlet Lake will go down as a cult classic that people will reference for years to come. There are plans for post-launch content in the same vein as Resident Evil 4, with extra campaigns and modes."

Scarlet Lake promises to bring a unique and terrifying horror experience, combining nostalgia with innovation, and we are excited to see its impact on the survival horror genre.