As Arkane Austin falls to the shareholders, its masterpiece Prey that 'elevated immersive sims to a god-tier level' is slashed in price by 80%
Like many PC gamers across the world, I was appalled when I heard about the shuttering of Arkane Austin by Microsoft. Despite the studio's recent woe with Redfall, a game described by some commentators as one where 'executives ruined everything', I'd presumed that its previously stellar track record and new ownership by a financial juggernaut would insulate it from the tsunami of gaming industry job losses we've witnessed over the last year.
But no, Arkane Austin, the studio that made the immersive sim masterpiece that is Prey, as well as contributed to probably my favourite gaming series of the past 15 years, Dishonored, is now gone, leaving nothing but a trail of 'fury and heartbreak' throughout the gaming community. Personally, I feel much of that discontentment comes from the powerlessness of being unable to do anything to rectify this.
The only thing I thought to do when I heard the news is to replay Arkane Austin's greatest hits and remember what awesomeness it delivered up to the release of Redfall. As a huge Arkane fan, I already own most of its back catalogue, including its greatest work, Prey, but if you haven't played this then, in some sort of cosmic irony, it is currently available at GOG with an 80% discount applied. A gaming masterpiece for the price of a sandwich. The details can be checked out below.
Prey | $6.32/£5.00 (80% off)
This sci-fi immersive sim is off the charts in terms of maximizing player freedom and creative choice to play their way. A gripping plot, punchy visuals, and engaging gameplay mechanics make it a must-play in my opinion. The GLOO Cannon is one of gaming's best ever tools, too.
Why Prey is so great is hard to briefly explain, and I certainly won't go into exhaustive detail here, but one of its best qualities is how it evokes the feeling of playing a spiritual sequel to Half-Life 2. Key to that is not just the silent protagonist and experiment gone wrong vibes, but its introduction of the Gelifoam Lattice Organism Obstructor
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