Hinterland shifts devs from sequel to new

Developer Hinterland Studio is shifting developers from its planned sequel, Blackfrost, back to its nine-year-old survival game, The Long Dark. According to a studio update reported by PC Gamer, this move is a strategy to endure what it calls an "uncertain" industry, and it means new DLC is coming for the original game's Survival Mode.

When Hinterland first announced Blackfrost two years ago, the studio says the game industry was in a very different place. It states that entire business models have since been thrown into chaos, the geopolitical situation has become extremely complicated, and the picture for next-generation console hardware is less clear. The studio also claims the amount of time and money players spend on new games has declined as people turn to familiar titles.

New Content for Survival Mode

Over the next two years, Hinterland plans to continue updating The Long Dark's survival sandbox. This will include bug fixes, quality-of-life improvements, new features, and new regions taken from the game's final story episode. The studio also confirmed it will release two new DLC packs.

The first DLC will be released piecemeal, similar to the previous Tales From The Far Territory expansion pass. Hinterland says the second DLC "will be… different from that," but is withholding further details as it is still early in development.

Sequel Delayed and Pricing Considerations

Hinterland assured fans that Blackfrost is still in development. However, its early access launch, which was originally planned for this year, has been pushed to next year. The studio remains independent, stating it has had publishers reach out but has "not yet encountered a partner who we feel is truly motivated by what's best for Hinterland or for our players." It will continue to self-fund and self-publish the game.

The studio is also considering raising prices. It is looking at increasing the cost of the standalone Survival Mode as well as the new DLCs to help offset revenue lost from sales discounts. Hinterland acknowledged the economic pressure on players, saying, "We’re also mindful that the economic reality faced by a ton of folks today is that prices are increasing everywhere and you probably can’t really afford for games to get more expensive as well." The studio says it is trying to find a balance.

This strategic pivot back to a proven title comes amid widespread industry layoffs and rising hardware costs. For players debating where to spend their time and money, checking our standings of top-rated survival games might offer some context. The decision highlights the challenges for independent studios in a crowded market where launching a new game is increasingly difficult. Hinterland's plan is to adapt by returning to the comfort and security of the game that built its reputation.