Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition and Baldur’s Gate 2 Enhanced Edition arrive for PC on October 9th for the same tiers, while Supermassive’s The Casting of Frank Stone is available on October 14th. Ball x Pit is next on October 15th for Ultimate and PC Game Pass with The Grinch: Christmas Adventures.

Eternal Strands also debuts for Premium subscribers on the same day. It’s joined by He Is Coming for PC (Game Preview) and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. Pax Dei exits early access on October 16th and will be available for Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Double Fine’s Keeper arrives on October 17th for Ultimate and PC Game Pass, while Evil West debuts on October 21st for the same tiers (plus Premium). Finally, Ninja Gaiden 4 arrives on October 21st for Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Check out the three titles leaving the service on October 15th:

• Cocoon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Core Keeper (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

This game doesn’t get what it means to be a superhero, full stop. Incremental powerups to characters who should already be suited to high-level meant this generic paint-by-numbers shooter was always destined to underwhelm. Most disappointing with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League though is the fact Rocksteady were at the helm. The Arkham developers crafted multiplayer shooter when atmospheric single players are their bread and butter. The reported $200 million loss on the game hasn’t perturbed WB Games though who seem strangely hellbent on going all-in on live service for their future titles.

LEVEL ZERO: EXTRACTION

Doghowl Games’ extraction shooter is currently in early access, so technically, it can get better- but that isn’t the trajectory it has followed thus far. Level Zero: Extraction had a promising enough premise, but was let down by significant gameplay and balancing issues even at launch. In the time since then, the developer has consistently made updates that have proven unpopular with players, leading some to wonder just how healthy the game’s future is going to be.

Enotria: The Last Song 

Milan-based studio Jyamma Games are utilising their Italian heritage to great effect in Enotria: The Last Song. This isn’t just a summertime Soulslike, it’s imbued with tradition, folklore, and culture, with inspiration seeping out of Renaissance era theatre Commedia dell’Arte. The story here begins with you, The Maskless One, tasked with liberating a world locked in time loop; an eternal play stagnating its actors. Through power bestowed via NPC companion Pulcinella you’ll alter the very fabric of reality to eradicate the nefarious Authors who’ve besieged this beautiful world.

]]> 605153 https://gamingbolt.com/the-casting-of-frank-stone-is-out-now Tue, 03 Sep 2024 22:57:01 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=597929 The Casting of Frank Stone, Supermassive Games’ latest interactive horror title, is out now. Playable on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, it’s based on Behaviour Interactive’s Dead by Daylight. Check out the launch trailer below.

The setting is Cedar Hills, and the plot focuses on four teens shooting a horror movie, Murder Mill. They opt for the abandoned Steel Mill as a location, not only because of its creepy vibes but also due to its history with Frank Stone. The latter was a serial killer who terrorized the town years prior for mysterious reasons.

Of course, things start going wrong in the mill, and the group must survive against all odds. The Casting of Frank Stone features the same tenets of Supermassive’s horror titles while mixing skill checks from Dead by Daylight. There’s also an 8mm camera used in specific sequences. For more details on the title, check out our review – we gave it a five out of 10.

This brings us to The Casting of Frank Stone, Supermassive’s latest interactive narrative horror. As a collaboration with Behaviour Interactive, touted as “from the world of Dead by Daylight”, it seemingly offers a simple tale where choice and consequence determine who survives. Nothing revolutionary, but with deep enough characterization, compelling writing, and intriguing scenarios, it could have been a tight thriller.

"The setting is Cedar Hills in 1980, several years after the carnage perpetrated by one Frank Stone. Jaime, Chris, and Linda are shooting a movie, Murder Mill, set in the abandoned Steel Mill where Stone previously worked."

Instead, it falters on numerous fronts. Though it somewhat caters to fans of the Dead by Daylight lore, the story and gameplay fail to stand on their own, whether you’re seeking heart-pounding scares, something more cerebral or plain old violence.

The setting is Cedar Hills in 1980, several years after the carnage perpetrated by one Frank Stone. Jaime, Chris, and Linda are shooting a movie, Murder Mill, set in the abandoned Steel Mill where Stone previously worked. It’s not until later they learn about the extent of his crimes, and together with Robert, they push deeper into the mill to capture more. But is Frank really dead? We know The Entity from Dead by Daylight is involved somehow, based on all the marketing blurbs, but in what sense?

The plot holes appear fairly early, especially regarding the movie the teens are shooting. Where does Frank Stone figure into the script, especially when they presumably need one more shot to wrap it up? Is this meant to be a commentary on amateur film-making and how it can sometimes feel directionless, justifying the teens wandering around with the least amount of self-preservation instinct? You, the player, know it’s a plot device to keep things moving, but it doesn’t have to feel so shoddily constructed (cheesy acting aside).

Amid all this, another plotline unfolds, set in 2024. It sees the unassuming Madison venturing to a strange, isolated estate at the behest of the mysterious Augustine. She meets a somewhat familiar face along the way and then Stan, who couldn’t be slimier or more untrustworthy if he tried. They – and their host – are also connected to Murder Mill, and when Augustine mysteriously disappears, the trio begin exploring to uncover her secrets.

"For the most part, it feels like The Casting of Frank Stone is intent on moving things along rather than taking the time to build its cast."

There is some poorly written dialogue here and there, accentuated by how awkward the cutscene direction and facial expressions can sometimes be. However, above all else, it feels like the majority of the cast just isn’t fleshed out enough. Jaime comes across as happy-go-lucky but becomes more hesitant and moody about the production after Chris delves into Frank Stone’s past. What’s the deal with his family, and what does he want?

There’s Chris, who may come across as ungrateful but emerges as someone determined to get things done and cares for her friends deeply, even when terrified. What’s that about her not being from Cedar Hills? Why does she want to make a horror movie besides simply liking horror? There’s no time to explain. Jaime’s sister, Bonnie, gets some moments to breathe as she offers intriguing glimpses into her time in New York and how she feels about Cedar Hills. However, it’s simply not enough, ultimately wasting her potential.

There are other examples, but Frank Stone is probably the most egregious. As you explore off the slightly beaten path, there are some interesting bits to discover about Frank, even if they’re little more than reminders of someone behind his actions. For the most part, it feels like The Casting of Frank Stone is intent on moving things along rather than taking the time to build its cast.

The characterization feels adequate in service of the overall plot but doesn’t go that extra mile to really make you care. We’re on the cusp of something more, especially after the opening hours (despite some dreadful exchanges), but it’s ultimately inconsequential en route to the climax. I have other complaints regarding certain scenes and choices, which mess with my suspension of disbelief, but that would venture into the spoiler territory. Suffice it to say that the core plot turns out to be more straightforward than you would think, even if much of it stretches credulity.

"Some graphical issues exist on PS5, like a dithering effect with shadows and odd anti-aliasing on "

The voice actors do a good enough job with the delivery, while Supermassive’s performance capture is on point more often than not. The same goes for the environmental details – locations can feel limited and somewhat simplistic (outside of an annoying maze-like section). However, the remains of the Cedar Mill, various graffiti adorning the walls, and more gruesome bits, coupled with the lighting and shadows, help contribute to the atmosphere. The cinematography is also decent, though I found the voyeur-esque shots when the teens were returning to their garage, short as they were, to be the best.

Some graphical issues exist on PS5, like a dithering effect with shadows and odd anti-aliasing on characters’ hair. Despite the solid frame rate performance, both can prove distracting at times. There were also a few bugs that took me out of the experience, like one character’s death glitching out and making them appear like paper mache, Jaime putting on a backpack while already wearing one, and the presence of a character who should, by all means, not be in a scene. Thankfully, there’s nothing game-breaking and I can see these being addressed quickly.

One aspect that unfortunately can’t be “fixed” is the gameplay. By now, the gameplay loop will be familiar to fans of Supermassive’s previous titles. Certain cutscenes have choices to make, but you can also walk around and explore some areas, solving puzzles, gathering collectibles, and chatting with other characters. You have quick-time events, some represented as Dead by Daylight-style skill checks, and it’s all fairly rudimentary. However, the additional mechanics feel out of place or mind-numbingly simplistic.

When you think Dead by Daylight, what comes to mind? Four players are pitted against a murderous killer, exploiting their environment and utilizing stealth to escape (in a nutshell, at least). Skill checks come into play in different ways, like when repairing generators. Hit the required area to repair, but missing it will cause the generator to make noise, attracting the killer. If you can time the button press perfectly, repairs go by faster.

"Then there are the camera scenes, where you aim the 8mm, press the trigger and film, occasionally winding it up. Given the context of these sequences, the whole mechanic comes across as dull and diminishes any potential scares."

The Casting of Frank Stone carries that over, but without any threat (except for perhaps one scene – I didn’t fail it enough times to find out). You could keep timing it perfectly and repairing it faster, but that doesn’t matter. I also dislike the whole “hunting for parts” aspect because (a) it’s repeated for every single generator repair, and (b) one section’s parts are just in plain sight, mitigating any sense of tension.

Then there are the camera scenes, where you aim the 8mm, press the trigger and film, occasionally winding it up. Given the context of these sequences, the whole mechanic comes across as dull and diminishes any potential scares. The only real challenge came from the drift in my DualSense’s right stick, which was, at best, a minor inconvenience.

The regular puzzles are slightly better, but not by much. One section has pop-up notifications, the same informing you of a fate changing, annoyingly dictating every single step in a puzzle. Another sequence involves finding valves to redirect steam jets to progress forward. Finding them is super-easy, but on replaying the section, I discovered that you can’t just gather the parts and proceed. No, you need to trigger the same cutscenes and interact with the same things again. It may not sound like the biggest deal, but when replaying chapters to make different choices, it becomes an annoyance

Speaking of which, there’s the Cutting Room Floor, where you can revisit past decisions to try and obtain different outcomes. It also helpfully indicates the percentage of players who opted for each choice. I’ve played my share of adventure titles and visual novels, so this is appreciated. Unfortunately, you can’t just jump to the choices in question. You have to start the chapter and keep playing until reaching the point of said decision.

"Yet, despite the sheer range of possibilities in the horror genre, the biggest struggle with The Casting of Frank Stone is finding much of anything that genuinely frightens or pushes the envelope."

There’s also no skipping or fast-forwarding, increasing the tedium ten-fold, to see another outcome (which may not always be worth it). What happens if you make a mistake at some point? Go back to the beginning of the chapter and do it all over again. While the game attempts to separate the chapters enough, you still must endure several repeated cutscenes ad nauseam for a new result.

I said that The Casting of Frank Stone doesn’t stand well enough on its own, but there may still be some appeal for Dead by Daylight fans. Certain events link back to The Entity and its motives while slightly expanding on certain factions. Unanswered questions remain about the entire process leading to the finale, but at least it makes Behaviour’s lore somewhat more interesting.

The Casting of Frank Stone could have offered a unique traipse into Dead by Daylight’s world, combining Supermassive’s narrative treatment with the latter’s tense gameplay to cater to single-player fans. Instead, it opts for the same gameplay model seen in the developer’s previous titles, with a few barely interesting hooks to liven things up.

It’s dragged down further by an underdeveloped cast and a narrative that leaves much to be desired when not confounding with its plot holes or punishing you for wanting to pursue other paths. Yet, despite the sheer range of possibilities in the horror genre, the biggest struggle with The Casting of Frank Stone is finding much of anything that genuinely frightens or pushes the envelope.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

The Casting of Frank Stone

By now, we should all be acquainted with Supermassive Games’ brand of narrative adventure, choice and consequence, and character-driven horror. The Casting of Frank Stone has all that but spices things up further by tying up with Behaviour Interactive’s Dead by Daylight. Skill checks collide with potential life-ending choices, and somewhere, someway, the Entity is seemingly involved. It’s out on September 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

NBA 2K25

Visual Concepts’ NBA 2K series is back for another round, as it usually is by this time of year. Launching September 6th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, it adds 9,000 new animations, Rhythm Shooting, Signature Shots, and even Learn 2K, a mode for learning everything there is to know about NBA 2K25. Best of all, this marks the first time the PC version has parity with the current-gen releases (though crossplay is a no-go).

Towerborne (Early Access)

Stoic Studio’s long-awaited Towerborne, which combines side-scrolling beat ’em up combat with live service machinations, enters early access for PC on September 10th. While that means Xbox Series X/S players will miss out, combat has looked compelling, with each of the four classes looking unique. Early access also offers a storyline, “hundreds” of Discovery missions, 13 Venture missions (which feature multiple bosses), Aspects, and four Danger Levels for about 30 to 60 hours of gameplay.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

After years and years, Nintendo finally delivered a new title in The Legend of Zelda series not focused on Link. Well, not in the way that we’re used to. With a strange corruption taking over Hyrule and Link out of commission, it’s Zelda’s turn to protect the kingdom. Featuring a top-down perspective, the art style from the Link’s Awakening remake, and the ability to duplicate almost everything, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom looks like a delightful action-adventure. It’s out on September 26th for the Nintendo Switch.

Throne and Liberty

From its initial announcement as a new Lineage title to launching for PC last year in South Korea, NCSoft’s Throne and Liberty will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC in North America, Japan, and Europe on September 17th. Featuring crossplay support, the free-to-play MMO promises massive fantasy medieval skirmishes, an extensive world with day/night cycles, multiple weapon types, and even shape-shifting. New MMOs aren’t necessarily a dime a dozen – perhaps this will be worth the wait.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

Despite the name, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is closer to a remake, with revamped visuals courtesy of RE Engine, a new modern control scheme, full voice-acting, and the same zombie-slaying that defined the original. There are also a ton of quality-of-life improvements, including an option to fast-forward through time, new photography features, autosaves, and more. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster launches on September 19th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Frostpunk 2

11 bit studios’ Frostpunk 2 is launching on September 20th for PC after facing a delay, and its expanded scale, factions, and system of proposing laws (and dealing with the consequences) looks as enticing as ever. Several changes and improvements have been made, from a cleaner UI to more direct-use abilities and Zoom Stories to focus on individual citizens. There’s even modding support at launch, with the tease of T-Rexes in the frostland.

UFL

If the latest EA football title isn’t doing it for you, then maybe UFL will. Developed by Strikerz Inc. on Unreal Engine, the free-to-play title launches on September 12th. It features 2v2 and 3v3 matches, an extensive online experience courtesy of an online football league, and about 5,000 real-life players (including Cristiano Ronaldo). Whether it threatens EA Sports’ dynasty or not, UFL could be a decent alternative.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

The racing genre has been feeling a little barren lately, which KT Racing’s Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown should help to address. Offering a 1:1 scale of Hong Kong Island with numerous districts to explore, two factions to join, a revamped ranked experience, and a live service approach, there’s plenty to look forward to. The question is whether it all coalesces into a fun experience, especially after all the delays. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown arrives on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5.

Astro Bot

The beloved Astro returns in a much bigger, more fleshed-out adventure on September 6th. With over 50 planets to explore, more than 15 new abilities, and +300 Bots to rescue – including cameos from Horizon, Bloodborne, and Jak and Daxter – there’s a lot of content to look forward to. Whether you’re in it for the tight platforming and adventuring or to collect every single Bot, Astro Bot looks to be a good time.

EA Sports FC 25

Dread it, run from it – a new football title from EA Sports arrives all the same. This year’s iteration brings several new features, like Player Roles, Goalkeeper Playstyles, and FC IQ for improved team AI. Perhaps the most intriguing new addition is Rush, a 5v5 competitive mode promising faster, more exciting matches. EA Sports FC 25 arrives on September 27th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns

Remember the gold old days when Liu Kang didn’t have to deal with a chaotic fighter who used their limbs to fight? Khaos Reigns is the post-story expansion for Mortal Kombat 1, adding a new plot with Havik as the antagonist. It also includes Kombat Pack 2, with fighters like Sektor, Cyrax, Noob Saibot, the T-1000 from Terminator and even Conan the Barbarian. Launching on September 24th, Khaos Reigns will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

The Plucky Squire

Indie platformers come and go, but something about The Plucky Squire from All Possible Futures makes it stand out. Maybe it’s the gorgeous art style or the seamless transitions from 2D to 3D gameplay, with genres like role-playing games, side-scrolling shoot ’em ups and more thrown into one intriguing potpourri. Either way, it’s out on September 17th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, and we can’t wait.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Almost 13 years after the original’s launch, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is upon us. With massive swarms of Tyranids to assail across a 12-hour campaign, tons of weapons, and epic set pieces, the sequel promises a heaping helping of bloody action (which newcomers can jump into without any hurdles). There’s also a separate Operations mode with co-op support and PvP, multiple classes, and extensive customization to keep players busy. Space Marine 2 launches on September 9th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Starfield: Shattered Space

Last and hopefully not least is Shattered Space. Bad things are going down, with cosmic horrors running around and various factions in conflict. With new space suits, gear, and unique weapons to go with new quests and horror elements, it could be the shot in the arm that the space-faring RPG needs when it launches on September 30th.

The most important for completionists is the Cutting Room Floor, available after finishing the story and where players can return to choices and select different outcomes. Couch co-op also returns, allowing you to pass controller between friends and the 8mm film camera employed by the main cast to “sense the cosmic danger” that stalks them.

Pre-orders can also use Plunderer’s Instinct to more easily locate collectibles. Meanwhile, those who pick up the Deluxe Edition can unlock the Cutting Room Floor from the start.

The Casting of Frank Stone launches on September 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out our feature for more details on what to expect.

Cedar Hills

Cedar Hills, Oregon, is the setting and the site of a tragedy perpetrated by the famous Frank Stone many years prior. It’s also where five friends embark in the Summer of 1980 to shoot an amateur horror film. It isn’t long before they’re seemingly hunted by the man and must escape. However, things aren’t what they seem, and there’s clearly more brewing beneath the surface.

Characters

Christine Gordon, Jaime Rivera, Linda Castle, Robert Green, and Bonnie Rivera form the core cast who venture to the mill. However, there’s also a prologue set in 1963, seemingly setting up the events to come, where you control a police officer, Sam Green, investigating the location to search for a missing child (and seemingly encountering Stone, based on May’s gameplay trailer).

Various murders also occurred years before, from a fire in Lakeview that claimed the lives of two to attacks on the public and police following a showing of the film, “Murder Mill”, at the cinema (a poster for which also appears in the mill). What these have to do with Stone is unknown, but there’s doubtless a connection.

Frank Stone

The core focus is on titular serial killer Frank Stone, who dons a welding mask and uses tools like hammers and blades to brutalize his victims. He even has a meat hook, presumably for mounting victims (not unlike in Dead by Daylight), while a rough sketch for a suit and mask (as seen on the official website) refers to him as a “Creature forged to purge the world.” However, some fans have noticed what may be The Entity behind Stone in one key art image.

What’s especially interesting is how Goss revealed to Bloody Disgusting that Stone’s name is a “play on words.” Perhaps Frankenstein? A creation by The Entity for some nefarious purpose? Regardless, it wouldn’t be the first time Supermassive has used titles with double meaning. Look no further than The Quarry, which is decidedly not about a site where rocks and sand are gathered.

Dead by Daylight Connection

The Casting of Frank Stone doesn’t just have references to Behaviour Interactive’s Dead by Daylight (like the mask belonging to Anna the Huntress, one of the latter’s killers, or the signature generator). It also promises a “never-before-seen look at the wider world” of the franchise. Director Steve Goss told Bloody Disgusting earlier this year, “There are huge sections of the game that feel nothing like a traditional Supermassive game because we’re exploring a connection to the Dead By Daylight experience. There’s a kind of balance between those two things.”

Behaviour Interactive’s Dave Richard also promised that Dead By Daylight players would learn more about the universe. “There’s a way that players will be able to explore the Dead By Daylight world that would be impossible to do in the multiplayer game.”

Choice-Driven Gameplay

Supermassive Games is known for its choice-driven gameplay, where one wrong move can create a butterfly effect cascading into multiple unforeseen possibilities. The Casting of Frank Stone is no different – based on your decisions, the narrative will branch accordingly. Responses can have different tones, whether serious or concerned, which also impact the story’s direction.

Anyone Can Die

However, like the developer’s previous titles, whether it’s The Quarry, Until Dawn, or The Dark Pictures Anthology, anyone can die. It’s all tied to your decisions, and somewhere along the way, someone may not live to see the end. How will this play into Dead by Daylight’s lore, where The Entity can revive Survivors, causing them to relive their tribulations in its realms unto eternity? We’ll have to wait and find out.

Puzzles

Supermassive and Behaviour Interactive haven’t delved too deeply into the puzzles players will encounter in the environment. You will spend a decent chunk of time gathering clues and investigating, which could potentially offer information when making decisions. There are also collectibles to discover, though their significance to the story is unknown.

QTEs

It wouldn’t be a Supermassive Games title with QTEs, whether it’s pressing the right button prompt at the required time or repeatedly pressing one within a limited window to perform an action. Original? Maybe not, but thankfully, there’s another mechanic that long-time enjoyers of the developer’s catalogue will have to master.

Skill Checks

As seen with Game Informer’s exclusive gameplay last month, Dead by Daylight’s Skill Checks also enter the mix. While exploring the mill’s tunnels, Sam is surprised by a pipe suddenly bursting. A Skill Check appears where you must press the button in the correct section of the circular bar. A smaller white section is also present and could produce a better result if your timing is right.

The Camera

The Super 8 camera that the cast uses is also pivotal to the plot in several ways. While it can film things in the first person (as revealed to Game Informer as part of its final cover story), there are implications for other uses down the line. Supermassive also teased that there may be other cameras for players to use.

The Cutting Room Floor

Upon beating the game, you get access to The Cutting Room Floor, where strips of film reel showcase all the decisions made and let you return to specific points to choose differently. It’s also helpful for picking up any spare collectibles, ensuring another playthrough isn’t necessary (though you could also pre-order to instantly unlock the Plunderer’s Instinct to scan for the same). Those who purchase the Deluxe Edition gain instant access to The Cutting Room Floor, providing a guide of sorts if you really want everyone to live on that first playthrough…or even die, just to see what happens.

Storytelling Structure Similar to Until Dawn

However, don’t expect as many different directions as The Quarry. The developer revealed to Game Informer that the story-telling structure is like Until Dawn. There will be plenty of branches, but this approach sounds more focused and could mean more substantial endings based on your actions.

Unreal Engine 5

The Casting of Frank Stone uses Unreal Engine 5, a major step up from The Quarry developed on Unreal Engine 4. It’s utilizing tech like Lumen for environmental lighting and Nanite for more detailed geometry. Art director Ollie Simmonds also revealed in a behind-the-scenes video that it allows the team to use its own scanning for photogrammetry. “So with Nanite, we can just drop it in as-is, and we keep all that incredible detail and realism in our environments.”

System Requirements

As such, PC players can look forward to higher specifications than the developer’s previous games. Windows 10 64-bit 1909 or higher or Windows 11 and 70 GB of installation space are required, first and foremost. Minimum requirements include an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 12 GB RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 or AMD RX 5700 XT. The recommended requirements include a Core i5-12400F or Ryzen 5 5600, 16 GB RAM, and an RTX 3070 or AMD RX 6800.

4K, HDR10 and Ray Tracing

While Supermassive hasn’t outlined the specifications required for 4K and ray tracing on PC, Xbox Series X (and, by extension, PS5) players can somewhat rest assured. The game’s Xbox Store listing confirms 4K and ray tracing support alongside HDR10.

The intersection of the Until Dawn and DBD gaming audiences almost guarantees some modicum of success for The Casting of Frank Stone. Dead By Daylight gets an average of 500,000 players daily, and the Until Dawn community is always eager to try out the newest Supermassive game. The Casting of Frank Stone also just seems like the ideal ‘streaming’ game, possessing all the branching narrative horror quirks that made Until Dawn so popular. Of course, it wouldn’t be a horror drama without a roster of characters that you’ll inevitably have trouble keeping alive.

Like Until Dawn and The Dark Picture Anthology, The Casting of Frank Stone follows a group of teens exploring an abandoned area on the outskirts of a quiet and eerie town. The cast of five teens band together to shoot a horror movie on the grounds of the condemned Cedar Steel Mill property, the spot where the serial killer, Frank Stone, allegedly committed his gruesome murders. All the ingredients are here for the typical Supermassive game, but the chaotic Dead By Daylight lore makes it all the more interesting. The developers strongly hint at DBD death mechanics being at play within The Casting of Frank Stone. The implication here is that, like DBD, characters will be revived after death by the evil machination of The Entity. I can already imagine a pivotal narrative moment when your surviving teens come across a mind-wiped friend in the bowls of the mill and have to face them head-on. The chaotically fluid nature of death within DBD really spices up the narrative formula that Supermassive is known for, making for a far less straightforward story from their past games. Considering how vital the branching endings are in Supermassive games, you can bet we’re going to see the consequences of our actions reflected by DBD’s particularly twisted death system.

You control a variety of different characters within The Casting of Frank Stone, not merely beholden to the perspective of the teens, as the police officer from the game’s prologue shows us. Better yet, the cast of characters behave with non-scripted AI, a stark contrast to Supermassive’s typical linearly-derived narrative experiences. The game’s trailers have managed to impress with top-notch voice acting across a wide range of characters as well. The narrator from the Murder Mill Trailer instills confidence that this game will continue the trend of iconic narration in between chapters that Until Dawn so brilliantly carried forward.  While it’s not confirmed yet if The Casting of Frank Stone features a narrator who acts as a throughline of the experience, it is encouraging to hear such a strong trailer narration.

But one thing we are sure of is that Frank Stone is the central antagonist of the game, and as expected, he’s a deadly murderer who fits within DBD’s roster of killers almost to a tee.  DBD fans are already speculating what connection Frank Stone has with The Entity. In case DBD fans get too ahead of themselves regarding the protagonists, the developers pretty much deny the existence of character talents and perks, stating that in the Game Informer cover story, “none of them are superheroes”.

But who needs superheroes when you have good old intuition, right? It is theoretically possible to keep every character alive by the end of your time through The Casting of Frank Stone, but it requires a lot of luck and hindsight. The multi-linear ‘Butterfly Effect’ narrative is alive and well in The Casting of Frank Stone. Dialogue choices take the form of a wheel split between different responses and emotions. Through Game Informer’s interviews with Supermassive, we learn that the studio is aiming for more meaningful branching paths akin to Until Dawn rather than the 186 watered-down endings that The Quarry offered. Each character can meet an untimely demise based on your choices and reactions to any given situation. There’s even a flowchart laying out all possible choices and outcomes you can make, which they’ve called the Cutting Room Floor. Every branching choice has a player percentage next to it, indicating the amount of other players who chose that particular path. This flowchart streamlines the process of replaying the game, something Supermassive’s previous games could have used. However, the Cutting Room Floor feature is only unlocked after beating the game, or from the start if you happen to have the Deluxe Edition of the game.

Basic button-timed QTEs were another form of ‘choice’ that the player had in previous Supermassive games, but thankfully, The Casting of Frank Stone offers a more interactive solution. Quick time button prompts are replaced by a Skill Check system taken straight from Dead By Daylight. Skill Checks are still QTEs, in a sense, but they offer more nuance with a gradient meter-stop minigame that DBD fans will recognize. Skill Checks require you to stop the rotating pointer on a small ‘success zone’ within the wheel. As seen in the seven-minute gameplay demo, failure can result in a character getting injured and potentially much worse. If DBD is anything to go by, there will be failure, good, and great zones, which result in different outcomes based on where you land the marker. These Skill Checks may just be a small iteration on timed button prompts at the end of the day, but they certainly offer added nuance while tying into DBD nicely.

Nothing caught my attention quite as much as the painstaking detail the team placed on the worldbuilding for the game. Just watch the “Welcome to Cedar Hills” video and you’ll see what I mean. The team puts special emphasis on the sociological history of Cedar Hills as a steel manufacturing town in Oregon, details that greatly affect the events of the game.  The focal point of the game is the Cedar Steel Mill, as reflected in playable segments from the past when the steel mill was still active. The town surrounding the steel mill has been a shell of its former self ever since the mill shut down, with a decaying and lethargic populace adding that ‘sleepy town’ vibe that goes so well with this kind of teen horror game. The devs describe the mill’s furnace tower as an “industrial haunted house”, which accurately describes the decaying remains of the town’s dead industrial heart.

It’s a good thing there’s such attention to detail regarding worldbuilding because The Casting of Frank Stone goes heavy with exploration and hidden objects. As seen from the gameplay demo, the game has a methodical explorative pace to it. The items you pick up and memos you read will no doubt unravel the mystery as to why the steel mill was shut down and what kind of people used to live in Cedar Hills. Further enhancing the inspired locations of the game is the implementation of Unreal Engine 5. This is the first Supermassive game to use UE5, and it shows. The engine upgrade allows the team to make good use of Lumen tools to accentuate the shadows and many dark environments within the labyrinthine steel mill. Furthermore, Nanite allows the devs to use real-world location imagery and replicate it into the game without bottlenecking processing power with realistic detail still intact. Having a branching narrative horror game making full use of Unreal Engine 5 sets The Casting of Frank Stone apart from its competitors and also marks it as the largest game Supermassive has ever made.

The Casting of Frank Stone has the popularity of the Until Dawn audience and the Dead By Daylight fanbase to prop up its general appeal and potential. The devs are pulling out all the stops to create a high-production branching narrative game set in the Dead By Daylight universe with all the chaotic weirdness that entails. This is all augmented further by advancements in Unreal Engine 5 technology and a general increase in scope for this project.

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