The Callisto Protocol: Everything we know

The Callisto Protocol release date was revealed during Sony’s latest State of Play showcase, alongside a new gameplay trailer. First announced at the Game Awards in 2020, the incoming survival horror game from Dead Space co-mastermind Glen Schofield is set on Jupiter – and while once tied to the universe of PUBG: Battlegrounds, it is now, in fact, independent of publisher Krafton’s ever-popular battle royale. Billed as narrative-focused via a third-person perspective, we might see more over the course of E3 2022 (be sure to keep your eyes on our E3 2022 schedule), but, in any event, here’s everything we know about The Callisto Protocol at this point in time.    

The Callisto Protocol release date 

The Callisto Protocol

(Image credit: Striking Distance)

As revealed at Sony’s State of Play showcase on June 2, 2022, The Callisto Protocol release date is December 2, 2022. 

The Callisto Protocol reveal and gameplay trailers

In this stunningly rendered teaser, we see a nervous prisoner investigating suspicious sounds reverberating around the dimly lit prison. Needless to say, things don’t go particularly well for our unsuspecting convict. As the lights outside his cell flicker and his fear begins to grow, a terrifying Alien-esque creature possesses his sleeping cellmate, devouring our poor nameless protagonist in a chillingly gruesome manner. Sackboy this is not. 

The fact that this all-action, head-bashing gameplay trailer is somehow even more eerie than the teaser speaks volumes for The Callisto Protocol – to the point where we’re terrified already. The game’s Dead Space inspiration is clear here, but, even in this short showcase, it’s equally clear that this ain’t a simple clone. Roll on December 2. 

The Callisto Protocol platforms

Platforms for the game revealed so far are PS5, Xbox Series consoles and PC. Yet with the game published by PUBG’s Krafton, who have released the battle royale on Stadia, there is a chance that Callisto Protocol may find its way on Google’s streaming service. December 2 is a little bit away, which means we have more time to dive into the mysterious lore behind this terrifying new world… 

The Callisto Protocol gameplay, settings, and characters

The Callisto Protocol

(Image credit: Striking Distance)

As we’ve already mentioned, this intergalactic survival horror tale takes place 300 years in the future. Set in 2320, this adventure is set on a Jupiter moon humankind has never set foot on – Callisto. The game revolves around horrific creatures and a conspiracy unfolding on the moon Callisto’s dingy and dangerous Black Iron Prison. With only a teaser and a handful of interviews to go on, story details are light so far. Yet what we do know is that the game will be third-person and story-driven.

“Mystery is part of the importance of a game like this,” says Schofield in an interview with GamesRadar+. “What’s around the next corner? What’s behind that door? I think it was a good mix of showing enough, and then keeping some things like our mechanics and our characters and our story – a lot of the story – still hidden away so that we can tell a little bit more as the game develops, you know? We’ve got to leave some stuff up to the audience to figure out.”

Thanks to a recent issue of Game Informer (opens in new tab) which revealed more screenshots and details about the game, we now know that Callisto’s protagonist is known as Jacob Lee, who has the ability to push and pull objects. The official Twitter account also revealed that Jacob will be played by Transformers actor Josh Duhamel (opens in new tab)

“The game challenges players to escape the maximum-security Black Iron Prison and uncover its terrifying secrets,” states the game’s official site, “A blend of horror, action, and immersive storytelling, the game aims to set a new bar for horror in interactive entertainment.”  

Read our interview with Schofield

The Callisto Protocol

(Image credit: Striking Distance)

The Callisto Protocol marks Glen Schofield’s return to survival horror, but it’s so much more than just a next-gen Dead Space

In news that will please Dead Space fans, Callisto looks to bring back Dead Space’s ingenious ‘diegetic’ HUD. What does this mean in English? It means that your character’s health and other important information will be displayed via your protagonist’s avatar, through their suit, gun overlays, etc. You can see an example of this diegetic HUD in the trailer, situated on the prisoner’s neck.

The only other character of note seen in the aforementioned teaser is a mysterious figure watching the prison’s security cameras. While it isn’t clear whether is the prison warden or someone responsible for the outbreak of these horrific creatures, we’re sure to learn more about this shadowy figure in due course.  The last piece of the surprisingly scant narrative puzzle? A ship called the Charon. While we know little about who is on this ship, as we see this enigmatic man looming over the camera control panel, an announcement clears the Charon for landing. 

Callisto Protocol is no longer a part of the wider PUBG universe

The Callisto Protocol

(Image credit: Striking Distance Studios)

Initially it was revealed that The Callisto Protocol occupies the same fictional timeline as PUBG. The reason behind this? Callisto Protocol is published by the company behind the battle royale sensation. Despite this Jupiter-set horror outing taking place 300 years in the future, Schofield told GamesRadar+ that “there will be little connections here and there” between the two vastly different games, and that this unlikely lore building will “make more sense once the game comes out.” 

In May 2022, however, Schofield went on to clarify in a Tweet (opens in new tab) that this is no longer the case. In the statement, Schofield said that Callisto is “it’s own story and world” that “no longer takes place in PUBG universe”, explaining that the upcoming horror had grown into its own world. 


The Callisto Protocol has given us so much by showing us very little

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