Outbreak: Shades of Horror Chromatic Split is now available on Xbox Series X|S and on PC via Steam. Running on the cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5, Chromatic Split delivers spine-tingling survival horror gameplay and high-stakes exploration just ahead of Halloween for both experienced and novice players with wide array of difficulty settings. PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro enhanced versions of the game will also release in autumn 2024.
When Detective Lydia Daniels heads to the Cypress Ridge sewers to meet a contact, she gets much more than she bargains for on the eve of a deadly zombie apocalypse. Chromatic Split is a standalone story bridging together the events of Outbreak The FEDORA Files: What Lydia Knows and the upcoming Outbreak: Shades of Horror. Lydia will need to shoot, jump, climb, craft, and sneak through an expansive three act campaign if the city of Cypress Ridge is to have a chance at survival. She’ll begin her ordeal in the city’s labyrinthine sewer system completely unarmed and at the mercy of her environment before getting access to new items that allow her to progress and fight back. Will she discover the many secrets of the Cypress Ridge underground?
Early on in her exploit, Lydia will discover a lead pipe that not only allows her to combat zombies but also access new areas. Zombies are extremely dangerous and must be approached carefully; Lydia will need to employ stealth and careful movement to avoid attracting a deadly horde. Landing strategic blows with her melee weapon will stun and even stagger zombies, but getting into large fights is not recommended. Eventually, Lydia will discover weapons like the handgun and shotgun, allowing her to dismember zombie limbs, incapacitating her foes and buying her a chance to escape and continue her journey. With the ability to swap between third person and first person views at the press of a button, players can enjoy the game’s engaging action their way.
In traditional survival horror fashion, Lydia’s resources are highly limited. She will need to forage through her environment to find precious crafting components, allowing her to create ammo, healing remedies, and more. The choices are tough; does she combine gunpowder and bullet casings to build more ammunition? Or does she use it to concoct an ink jar, allowing for a one-time save? With many materials and item types to create, managing her limited inventory is challenging; what items does Lydia keep with her, and which should be stored away into linked item boxes for future use?
The power of Unreal Engine 5 enables dazzling effects, massive enemy counts, and intense set-pieces. Moody and intimidating lighting mixes with terrifying sound design to fully immerse layers into the world of Chromatic Split. Lydia doesn’t have much time to take in the bloody, creepy sights as she defeats enemies and solves puzzles, but players can enjoy the slime and grime of the sewers, the decay and rotting flesh of the undead, and the sparking and flickering of subterranean machinery gone awry.
Beyond the main quest, Chromatic Split is rich with bonus modes and content. Obliterate massive numbers of zombies on unique maps in the Onslaught and Besieged Modes, and escape old Cypress Ridge in the ultra-hard Looming Dread Mode. Revisit the main story, and carry over your weapons in New Game Plus. Concealed cheat codes, hidden costumes, and a multitude of achievements can be discovered and unlocked, and all modes can be enjoyed on one of six difficulties, including Assisted for players new to the game and genre. Post-launch, expect to unleash carnage in the extra Trials of Hank side-campaign, explore optional Developer Commentary for a behind-the-scenes look at the game’s development, and more!
The time is nigh for Cypress Ridge, and only Detective Lydia Daniels can prevent a full zombie outbreak from extinguishing the city. Will she be able to contain the chaos in Outbreak: Shades of Horror Chromatic Split before all hope is lost?
From the Developer:
“The first taste of Outbreak: Shades of Horror has arrived via Chromatic Split,” says Julia Wolbach, co-founder of Dead Drop Studios. “This standalone prologue is a tight and moody adventure built on the latest version of Unreal Engine 5, enabling a captivating world and the polished, modern gameplay that survival horror fans have come to expect. Exploring the underbelly of Cypress Ridge and discovering a wealth of mysteries along the way is both deeply satisfying and unnerving, and players will need to contend with nasty creatures and sinister puzzles to emerge victorious. Add to that a flock of bonus modes, multiple difficulties, and a new game plus, and you have a comprehensive package bound to excite even the most hardened horror veterans.”
Platforms and Pricing:
Outbreak: Shades of Horror Chromatic Split is now available on Xbox Series X|S and on PC via Steam at an MSRP of $24.99 USD. International pricing may vary. Dead Drop Studios will also release both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro enhanced versions this autumn. More specific information on launch timing and on which enhancements the game includes when played on PlayStation 5 Pro will be revealed in the future.
About Dead Drop Studios:
Dead Drop Studios is an indie game developer and publisher created and run by a husband and wife duo which focuses on creating retro-style survival horror games for the modern gamer. Their next announced title, Outbreak: Shades of Horror, is built in Unreal Engine 5 and brings a thrilling next-generation survival horror experience to console and PC platforms.
Important Links and Assets:
Chromatic Split Press Package: https://t.ly/4IYMZ
YouTube Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnn6J5sRrBw
Steam Store Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3107090/Outbreak_Shades_of_Horror_Chromatic_Split/
Xbox Series X|S Store Page: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/outbreak-shades-of-horror-chromatic-split/9nw4xzw1jt9m
PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro Store Page: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10012537 (Wishlist now!)
Contact:
Please reach out with any questions or interview requests.
Email: cmoquet@deaddropstudios.com
Thank you for your time and interest!
Clayton M.
Community Manager
Dead Drop Studios