Prey (2017 video game)
A spiritual successor to System Shock set aboard Talos I.
Prey is a 2017 first-person shooter and immersive sim from Arkane Austin, published by Bethesda Softworks. The story takes place in a version of history where humanity moved into orbital stations after a sped-up Space Race. You control Morgan Yu, a scientist on the Talos I station who is studying the Typhon, a hostile alien species with both physical and psychic abilities. After the Typhon break out of containment, you must use weapons and powers to survive, stop the outbreak, and eventually get off the station. The game starts with linear missions that gradually open up, letting you explore Talos I freely as you collect key items and abilities.
Development began after Arkane Austin finished *Dishonored* (2012), with Raphaël Colantonio directing. This *Prey* has little connection to the 2006 game of the same name or its canceled sequel; it reused only the name and the basic idea of being hunted by aliens, without any assets from the planned follow-up. Arkane designed it as a spiritual successor to *System Shock* (1994), giving players many ways to approach missions, and they saw Talos I as a modern take on the underground dungeon from their first game, *Arx Fatalis* (2002). The gameplay blends first-person shooters, role-playing games, stealth, and Metroidvania elements. The aliens were meant to feel mysterious, inspired by paranormal concepts rather than typical insect or lizard designs.
The game launched on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on May 5, 2017. Critics gave it positive reviews, praising its setting, level design, environmental storytelling, and themes, though the main story and gameplay got mixed reactions. Its reputation grew over time, with several gaming outlets later calling it one of the best immersive sims ever made. Arkane released an expansion called *Mooncrash*, which added procedural generation and roguelike features. A multiplayer update, *Typhon Hunter*, let players use the Typhon’s shapeshifting in a hide-and-seek mode. Poor sales led Arkane Austin to shift focus toward live service games, such as *Redfall* (2023).
**Gameplay**
Prey is an immersive sim played from a first-person view. You control Morgan Yu, a human trying to escape a space station after it’s taken over by the hostile Typhon. You start with only a wrench as a weapon, but later unlock a Gloo Cannon that shoots foam to freeze enemies.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Prey
- Developer
- Arkane Austin
- Publisher
- Bethesda Softworks
- Director
- Raphaël Colantonio
- Producer
- Susan Kath
- Designer
- Ricardo Bare
- Programmer
- Stevan Hird
- Writer
- Ricardo Bare · Raphaël Colantonio · Chris Avellone
- Composer
- Mick Gordon
- Engine
- CryEngine
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · Windows · Xbox One
- Released
- May 5, 2017
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development of the game started after Arkane Austin completed its work on Dishonored (2012). Raphaël Colantonio served as the title's director. Arkane's Prey is largely unrelated to the 2006 game Prey or its cancelled sequel. It did not use any of the planned sequel's assets and only incorporated the previous game's name and the broad theme of the protagonist being hunted by aliens. Arkane built Prey as a spiritual successor to System Shock (1994), giving players multiple avenues to approach and tackle missions while considering the Talos I station a thematic reinterpretation of the underground dungeon from their debut game, Arx Fatalis (2002). The game combines elements of first-person shooters, role-playing video games, stealth games, and Metroidvanias in its design. Aliens in the game were designed to be enigmatic, with their design being inspired by paranormal elements rather than stereotypical insect- or lizard-like species.
Reader's Guide
Prey received positive reviews from critics, who praised the game's setting, level design, environmental storytelling, and themes, though its main story and gameplay received a mixed response. The game's reputation improved over time, with retrospectives from several gaming publications describing it as one of the best immersive sims ever made. Arkane released an expansion named Mooncrash, which adds procedural generation and gameplay elements found in roguelike games. Arkane also introduced a multiplayer update named Typhon Hunter, which incorporates the Typhon shapeshifting abilities in a hide-and-seek-style game. The game's disappointing commercial performance resulted in Arkane Austin pivoting to making live service games such as Redfall (2023).
Did You Know?
- The game's Gloo Cannon shoots a foam-like substance that can freeze enemies and create makeshift stairs.
- The Typhon include subspecies such as Mimics that shapeshift into common items and Poltergeists that turn invisible.
- The Mooncrash expansion is a roguelike experience with randomized enemy and item placement.
- Injecting too many alien Neuromods causes the Nightmare to detect the player and station defenses to attack them.
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