Publisher Kepler Interactive and developer Frictional Games have delayed sci-fi mystery thriller Ontos from its previously planned 2026 release window to 2027. The studio announced the shift on July 2, 2026, via a post on X, breaking a stretch of silence that had kept the game absent from this summer's major showcases.
Why the delay
Frictional described Ontos as "our most ambitious game to date, both in terms of its size and scale, and in the depth and layers of our story and gameplay," adding that "in order to deliver this vision, we have decided to push the release of ONTOS to 2027." The studio also said it looks forward to sharing more updates about the game, its characters, and its world "soon," leaving the door open for a possible appearance at Gamescom Opening Night Live in August.
Development of the game has lasted more than 10 years. At the original reveal, creative director and co-founder Thomas Grip said, "After more than 10 years of development it is incredibly exciting to finally announce ONTOS. This is easily our most ambitious project yet in terms of scope, production values and sheer thematic ambitions," noting that "where SOMA tackled consciousness, ONTOS aims to do the same thing with the very nature of reality."
What Ontos is
Ontos is developed by Frictional Games and published by Kepler Interactive, and serves as the spiritual successor to SOMA (2015). The game follows engineer Aditi Amani, who explores a hotel on the Moon named Samsara to uncover the truth about her estranged father, guided by fragments of the past as she confronts unsettling truths about the nature of reality.
The moon base Samsara is described as "a vast, interconnected labyrinth built atop the ruins of a failed mining colony and an opulent hotel lost to time," now "a domain carved up by philosophical factions, where science bleeds into faith," featuring labs in lavish casinos, experiments in emptied pools, and machines built in ancient moon caves.
Ontos is played from a first-person perspective. Players explore Samsara and complete "Experiments" - narrative puzzles involving moral choices that affect both the mission outcome and the broader story. There are multiple ways to solve each puzzle, and the game features a nonlinear narrative allowing players to tackle missions in different orders.
Rather than pure horror, Ontos hews closer to SOMA; Frictional stated in January that it is not trying to make the game "a stressful or scary game in the traditional sense," but wants players to "grapple with heavy and thought provoking themes." According to Grip, Ontos has a more "cerebral" focus, where players face strange, disturbing scenarios unlike Amnesia, which was designed to evoke a more "primal" sense of fear.
Stellan Skarsgรฅrd's role
Actor Stellan Skarsgรฅrd voices Felix, the owner of moon station Samsara - and it marks his first foray into video games. Grip revealed the casting came about after Kepler Interactive joined the project: "Once Kepler came on board, we were talking about hiring various actors we could consider in order to really bring this home. Stellan was brought up as a perfect fit for a specific role, and to my big surprise and amazement, we managed to bring him onboard."
Platforms and engine
Ontos will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The game runs on Frictional's new proprietary HPL4 engine, representing a significant production leap for the Swedish studio.
| Platform | Format | Original Window | New Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | Steam / EGS | 2026 | 2027 |
| PS5 | Digital | 2026 | 2027 |
| Xbox Series X|S | Digital | 2026 | 2027 |
Verdict
Ontos is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing releases of 2027. Frictional's pedigree with SOMA earns them the benefit of the doubt on a delay of this nature - when a studio that spent a decade in development says it needs more time to get the vision right, it's worth taking seriously. The promise of fresh updates soon, and Skarsgรฅrd's starring role still shrouded in mystery, should keep anticipation high heading into Gamescom season.
Buy Ontos
Live deal tracker
Ontos is available to wishlist now; keep an eye on the live price tracker above for the best PC key deal at AU$84.12 when it launches in 2027.
