First details decoded for Encryption

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Demo for upcoming stealth horror adventure available during the Steam Scream V Fest

You'd think nothing could be worse for a parent than to be separated from a child in the midst of a blazing wildfire, but in Digital Lighthouse Games' upcoming Encryption, that's just the START of the protagonist's troubles. 

With a "climate catastrophe burning through southern Italy," a man named Leonardo clings to the hope of finding his missing daughter Arianna. His pursuit leads him to the town of Matera, one of "the oldest inhabited places on Earth." The usually bustling streets are now deserted with the wildfire fast approaching, leaving players to search for "forgotten papers and ... damaged recordings" that will yield new clues to Arianna's whereabouts. But it's what's beneath those streets that compels you further downward, where "something awaits in the darkness below." There "shadowy figures ... hunt you by the sound you make," but even in silence they aren't the only danger, as the very air itself can be a threat. There are "many ways to die here" and it's likely you'll experience most or all of them. 

Encryption is a first-person, free-roaming "cinematic" adventure whose locations are based on their real-world counterparts and brought to life (or this case, death) through the use of "3D laser scanning and photogrammetry technology" for maximum authenticity. It's also fully voiced, as you'll communicate remotely with Leonardo's ex-wife Sofia along the way. Gameplay promises to be a mix of "exploration, puzzles and stealth." You must carefully observe the environment for details that will help you overcome problems "rooted in ancient mysteries or in ordinary things," all while making as little noise as possible to evade the stalking "shadow entities" below Matera. They cannot be defeated by force, so you'll need to rely on "brains, not brawn" in order to survive. Your only tools are a flashlight, a noise detector, a multi-purpose smartwatch, and a "strange artifact you do not understand yet" to help you untangle a story exploring themes of "the supernatural, loss and destruction." 

There is no target release date just yet, but Encryption is ready for wishlisting on Steam, where it will launch sometime in 2027 for Windows PC. In the meantime, a playable demo is available as part of the Steam Scream V Fest, which runs from October 26th to November 2nd.

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