Frogwares released a one-hour demo of The Sinking City 2 on Steam today, giving players an early look at the standalone Lovecraftian horror sequel [1, 2, 3]. The game will fully launch on August 18 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S [1, 2, 3].
Set in a flooded version of the city of Arkham, the sequel follows occult investigator Calvin Rafferty searching for his missing lover amidst new horrors including zombies and fish-human hybrids [1, 2, 3]. The game emphasizes horror and survival, with detective work made optional, a change from the original’s focus [1, 2, 3].
Development began in January 2023, led mostly by a team based in Ukraine [1, 2]. The ongoing Russian invasion has complicated production, causing both logistical and emotional challenges. Sergiy Oganesyan, Frogwares’ head of publishing, said, "Making games is already chaotic and unpredictable, so having a war going on at the same time adds a layer of immense chaos" [1]. He added, "We were forced to constantly adapt and change our plans. So many times we had to rethink and adjust how we were going to get things done. And often just as we’d finally adapted and got into the new flow of things, something else would be waiting around the corner to throw us into disarray. Rinse and repeat" [2].
The demo allows players to explore parts of Arkham and engage with the game’s horror elements firsthand [1, 2, 3]. The full release on August 18 will be available across major platforms including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S [1, 2, 3].
