Mobius Games is very happy to finally talk about our first (and only) expansion for Outer Wilds! Echoes of the Eye adds a mysterious new location to the solar system, full of secrets to uncover. We designed the expansion as if it was still hiding in the world of Outer Wilds but had yet to be discovered. At the launch of Echoes of the Eye, check out the museum’s new exhibit on Timber Hearth, which marks the start of a final journey into the deepest and darkest part of the solar system.
You might be wondering why we chose to add content when Outer Wilds is already a full experience. As a relatively small and unestablished studio, we needed a project to immediately follow Outer Wilds that was neither too big nor too crazy, while still allowing us to grow as developers and hopefully deliver something that Outer Wilds fans would love. Internally, we had pitched various more conventional ideas for the Outer Wilds DLC. Ultimately, we realized that we wouldn’t be comfortable expanding the existing game unless it gave players something new and substantial to explore while also adding something meaningful to the narrative. . While Echoes of the Eye doesn’t match the scope of the base game itself, it has more depth than any location in the solar system. Our testers were pleasantly surprised by the depth of the rabbit hole!
As you can guess, adding something substantial to the existing game was a rabbit hole in itself. Creating Outer Wilds content is a complex process, and it didn’t take long for the DLC to become an expansion. Because it was supposed to work for new players as well as returning players, the structure of Echoes of the Eye ended up resembling a microcosm of the original game as a whole. That being said, don’t expect Echoes of the Eye to be the base game in miniature. We took a few risks with the storytelling method and added a lot of new mechanics. Outer Wilds has always had light horror elements, but this expansion really leans on the spooky side of things (don’t worry, we’ve added a ‘reduced spooks’ option to the menu if you find it too intense!)
As with Outer Wilds, Echoes of the Eye will play better the less you know, so we try to avoid messing up too much before you have a chance to play it on your own. Much like the original game, we’ve taken a lot of the basic science fiction elements and used them as inspiration for the in-game storytelling and dynamic systems. We can’t wait to see how fans react to the new revelations that come along. we have in store, and as usual, we’ve done our best to include plenty of additional details for those seeking answers to their questions. Beware though; while Echoes of the Eye may contain the answers you seek, is there any knowledge that is best left in the dark?
