Judas is an upcoming narrative-driven first-person shooter video game developed by Ghost Story Games, a studio founded by Ken Levine, known for his work on the BioShock series. The game was officially announced with a reveal trailer at The Game Awards in December 2022.
Development
Ghost Story Games, previously known as Irrational Games, was rebranded in 2017 after the winding down of
BioShock Infinite's development. The studio, led by Ken Levine, has been developing
Judas for several years, with its protracted development often a topic of discussion due to Levine's known iterative design process and ambitions for complex narrative systems. The game is being developed using Unreal Engine 5. Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Ghost Story Games, has provided funding and support throughout its development.
Gameplay
Judas is described as a single-player first-person shooter with significant narrative choices. Players assume the role of Judas, a character who is "the problem, or the solution, depending on how you look at it." The gameplay is expected to feature a blend of combat, exploration, and a reactive narrative system where player decisions influence relationships with other characters. A core mechanic involves the player forming or breaking alliances with three key antagonists, whose interactions and relationships are said to dynamically change the story's progression. The game aims to offer a high degree of replayability through its branching narrative paths.
Plot and Setting
The game is set aboard the Mayflower, a disintegrating starship adrift in space. The Mayflower is depicted as a "cosmic mausoleum" and a "laboratory of social experimentation." Its citizens have been trained to surveil and control each other, and any form of dissent is violently suppressed. The player character, Judas, is implied to be a key figure in destabilizing or rebuilding this society. The narrative themes are expected to explore complex ideas similar to Levine's previous works, focusing on freedom, control, and personal identity within a constrained environment.
Release
As of late 2023,
Judas does not have a firm release date, though it is expected to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.