The Prey series has an amazing history. The first part was developed for 11 years, having been in “production hell”, and the sequel was canceled, restarted, and after its release it gained cult status, although it failed in sales. In this article we will talk about the games in the line and reflect on its possible future.
Prey (2006)
- Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Xbox 360
The announcement of the game Prey took place in 1995, but eleven long years separated it from its release. At the same time, the title underwent a number of changes during its creation, although the original idea of alien abduction was retained.
The development of the project was delayed due to the ambitions of the game developers. They wanted to make a shooter that would revolutionize the industry, introduce a new word in games, and show a real next-gen. Already at the announcement, in 1995, the developers promised “honest” 3D, dynamic lighting, and unlimited possibilities in constructing locations. And they believed them; Tom Hall, who previously worked on Doom, Duke Nukem 2, Wolfenstein 3D, and John Romero, responsible for Commander Keen, Doom, Heretic, participated in the creation.
The authors wanted to implement portal technology, with the help of which players could navigate within locations and move various objects. However, they were limited by the technologies of their time, so everything somehow did not merge with the portals. The publisher also began to put pressure on the team, which is why Hall and Romero left the studio, taking with them a significant part of the employees – they later started working on the game Anachronox.
So Prey fell into “production hell”: developers came and went, game systems were constantly redesigned, and the engine gradually became outdated. As a result, in 2001 the project was restarted by Human Head Studios, which decided to abandon the proprietary engine and take id Tech 4 from Doom 3.
The game was released in 2006. It told the story of an Indian named Domasi “Tommy” Tavodi, who witnesses an alien invasion and ends up on the invaders’ spaceship. To save his girlfriend and understand what is happening, Tommy must repel the aliens using weapons and the heritage of his tribe: thanks to the power of his ancestors, the hero became practically immortal, since after death he could return to the world of the living again, fighting the ghosts of fallen souls.
Portal technology remained in Prey, but was significantly reduced: portals could only be created on certain surfaces. At the same time, the game offered solving numerous puzzles with gravity, which allowed you to walk on walls and ceilings, and build flying machines.
Despite the lengthy development, the project was positively received by the audience. Critics and gamers praised the graphics and gameplay, and it sold over a million copies in the first two months of release, motivating the publisher to put a sequel into production.
Prey 2 (cancelled)
- Platforms: Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Prey 2 was announced shortly after the release of Prey, and was developed by the newly created Radar Group studio together with Human Head Studios. The authors planned to maintain the concept of portals and the linear structure of missions, as well as give Tommy new abilities.
However, these plans were not destined to come true, since in 2009 ZeniMax Media bought the rights to the franchise and restarted development by Human Head Studios, making a re-announcement in 2011.
It became known that the protagonist of the new version of Prey 2 will be the former air marshal Samuel Killian, who was kidnapped by aliens directly from a flying passenger plane (players observed this scene in the original Prey, which was supposed to become a “bridge” between the games), but escaped from captivity and ended up in an alien world. Unable to return home, the hero became a bounty hunter, fulfilling orders from numerous employers.
The developers decided to focus on the open world and non-linear passage of missions, and the portal system was replaced with parkour inspired by Mirror’s Edge and the use of environmental elements for stealth and protection from enemies, taken from The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. The authors also promised several different locations, RPG elements, weapon upgrades and many other features.
In 2014, after a long period of silence regarding the fate of Prey 2, Bethesda announced that development of the game had ceased. Later, the director of Human Head Studios said that no one had been involved in the project long before this announcement. The reasons for stopping the creation of the title were not disclosed, but many insiders referred to the tense relationship between Human Head Studios and Bethesda.
Prey (2017)
- Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
In 2016, Bethesda announced a reboot of the Prey series, which was created by the Arkane Austin studio, which was noted for such games as Arx Fatalis, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Dishonored and Dishonored 2. Having made a name for themselves in immersive sim titles, the developers did not refuse from my own style and in this project.
The events of Prey unfolded on the Talos-1 orbital station, which is located in Earth orbit. The main role is played by Morgan Yu, a volunteer on whom scientists tested neuromods discovered with the help of alien technology. The protagonist must stop representatives of an extraterrestrial race who were kept locked up at the station, but after a certain incident scattered through its corridors until they got out of the complex and attacked the Earth.
The game used elements of metroidvania and immersive simulator: the space station was represented by a non-linear complex consisting of many compartments, and the player could gradually gain access to previously closed areas by finding the necessary keys or acquiring new abilities.
The same applied to confrontations with enemies: gamers have access to various options that allow them to fight using brute force, weapons and skills, such as, for example, mimicking objects in the environment. This system allowed players to choose their own style of play, as well as achieve one of several endings.
At the same time, the game impressed with its detailed world design, including the architecture and interior of the station, lore, and staff stories. This made Prey very alive and authentic, increasing immersion in the game universe.
The title was released in 2017. Critics and players praised the project, and it won year-end awards in various gaming publications, but sales of Prey were disappointing.
In 2018, the Mooncrash expansion was released, the action of which took place on a satellite orbiting the moon. Here, the new main character plunged into the simulation to obtain classified data, and at the same time found out new details of the aliens’ activities. The DLC featured roguelike elements and an emphasis on replayability.
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What’s next?
There is currently nothing known about the continuation of the Prey series. Considering that the relaunch of the line was a financial failure, although it gained cult status, the chances of a new game appearing soon are slim. We can only hope that Bethesda has not put Prey on a dusty shelf, and one day will still give us the opportunity to touch the amazing fantasy universe again.