The Callisto Protocol was already an unforgiving experience as you must escape the Black Iron Prison amid an outbreak that is turning its residents into horrific biophages – but now it offers its greatest challenge yet. As part of a free update, Striking Distance Studios introduced Hardcore mode – and I caught up with Creative Director Ben Walker to dive into the new horrors it brings.
“The name says it all – Hardcore mode is just hardcore,” Walker begins. “We designed The Callisto Protocol to be tough, and with this new mode we’re giving fans of truly brutal gameplay a whole new challenge to overcome.
“We’re drastically reducing the number of enemy drops, giving enemies more attack power, reducing the time it takes for creatures to mutate, and giving items a lower resale value on Reforge to make resources even more scarce. We’re also reducing the damage done by the Stun Wand while making GRP fees more expensive.
“We’re also adding three new achievements for players who have what it takes to survive Hardcore mode. But don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
Hardcore modes are a big part of the survival horror scene – in a genre that’s all about enduring the experience against all odds, it’s perhaps no surprise that the most dedicated gamers want those odds to get even harder . But even Striking Distance was surprised at how good these players could be:
“Hardcore mode has been on the roadmap for a while,” says Walker, “but after launch we were blown away by the number of people who actually mastered the game in Maximum Security mode [previously the toughest difficulty level] – it validated the concept and we are happy to give it to the players. We didn’t pull any punches here, so we think it will offer our hardcore players a hardcore challenge.”
But that doesn’t mean it was simply about making the game a one-death-game-over experience. Striking Distance focused on how to differentiate this significantly from maximum security mode without simply adding a more artificial barrier. That means fewer ammo and health losses, less contraband value, and enemies even more intent on bringing you down:
“A lot of other hardcore modes focus on permadeath,” explains Walker. “We wanted to focus more on turning and creating shortages of goods. This mode is all about pushing players’ skills to the limit […] It’s tough as hell, but it’s fair and it’s a pretty great achievement for those who can pull it off.”
That begs the question: how many people in the studio have actually managed to beat their own hardcore mode?
“We spent hundreds of hours testing the game, so a lot of people in the studio were beating the game in hardcore mode,” says Walker, “but I still found myself breaking a sweat on some encounters. Especially at Two Head. I haven’t thrown my controller yet, but I’ve come close to it every now and then. Beating it always feels like an achievement.”
But one key question remains: will you be able to beat it? Find out today.
Hardcore Mode is a free update available today for The Callisto Protocol on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Also available today is the Outer Way Skin Collection, the first of four DLC drops available as part of the game season pass And available seperately. The Callisto Protocol Season Pass is on sale with a 20% discountuntil February 13th.
The Callisto Protocol™ for Xbox Series X|S – Digital Deluxe Edition
KRAFTON, Inc.
$89.99
In this narrative-driven third-person survival horror game set 300 years in the future, the player takes on the role of Jacob Lee – a victim of fate thrown into the Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security prison on the moon of Jupiter. Callisto. As the inmates begin to transform into monstrous creatures, the prison is thrown into chaos. To survive, Jacob must fight his way to safety to escape the Black Iron Prison while uncovering the dark and disturbing secrets that lie beneath Callisto’s surface. Using a unique blend of shooting and melee combat, Jacob must adapt his tactics to combat the rapidly evolving creatures while unlocking new weapons, gear, and abilities to escape the growing threat and escape the horrors of Jupiter’s Dead Moon. HORROR TECHNOLOGY The Callisto Protocol is a next generation twist on survival horror penned by Glen Schofield. Blending atmosphere, suspense and brutality with terrifying moments of helplessness and humanity, The Callisto Protocol immerses players in a vibrant story where unspeakable horrors lurk around every corner. DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNITED JUPITER COMPANY Set on Jupiter’s dead moon Callisto in the year 2320, the Callisto Protocol puts players in the role of Jacob Lee, an inmate of the Black Iron Prison. When a mysterious outbreak throws the moon into chaos, Jacob must face his darkest fears to defeat the bloodthirsty creatures that haunt him while unraveling the dark secrets at the heart of the mighty United Jupiter Company. MASTER OF BRUTAL STRATEGIC COMBAT The Callisto Protocol challenges players to master an exciting mix of melee and ranged combat, including a unique gravity weapon once used by Black Iron guards to control the prison population. Players are forced to get up close and personal with their grotesque foes, chopping off limbs, shooting off legs and getting creative with whatever at their disposal to survive each encounter to the death. EXPERIENCE THE ISOLATION OF JUPITER’S DEAD MOON Callisto, one of the most hostile, isolated environments in the universe, towers over Jacob’s desperate struggle for survival. Players must not only confront the horrors of Black Iron Prison, but also the centuries-old mysteries that plague Jupiter’s long-dead moon both above and below the surface. Pre-order now to receive the following digital content: – Retro Prisoner Character & Weapon Skin – Season Pass The Season Pass includes: Outer Way Skin Collection: Wear the armor of the Outer Way, an underground insurgency opposed to the UJC fights as you struggle to survive the horrors of Callisto. Contagion Bundle: Discover the ultimate survival horror experience with a new mode, Contagion. With reduced ammo and health drops, an adjusted difficulty setting, and permadeath – there’s no second chance to escape the Black Iron Prison or the horrors that lurk beneath Callisto’s surface. The Contagion Bundle also includes thirteen new Jacob death animations and the Watchtower Skin Collection. Riot Bundle: Venture into a previously undiscovered area of Black Iron Prison and fight your way through waves of brutal enemies. Collect credits to upgrade your weapons or forge new ones and survive the onslaught for as long as possible in Riot, a brand new mode. The Riot Bundle also includes twelve new enemy death animations and the Engineer skin collection. Story DLC: Delve deeper into the horrific mysteries of the Callisto Protocol.
The Callisto Protocol™ for Xbox Series X|S
KRAFTON, Inc.
$69.99
In this narrative-driven third-person survival horror game set 300 years in the future, the player takes on the role of Jacob Lee – a victim of fate thrown into the Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security prison on the moon of Jupiter. Callisto. As the inmates begin to transform into monstrous creatures, the prison is thrown into chaos. To survive, Jacob must fight his way to safety to escape the Black Iron Prison while uncovering the dark and disturbing secrets that lie beneath Callisto’s surface. Using a unique blend of shooting and melee combat, Jacob must adapt his tactics to combat the rapidly evolving creatures while unlocking new weapons, gear, and abilities to escape the growing threat and escape the horrors of Jupiter’s Dead Moon. HORROR TECHNOLOGY The Callisto Protocol is a next generation twist on survival horror penned by Glen Schofield. Blending atmosphere, suspense and brutality with terrifying moments of helplessness and humanity, The Callisto Protocol immerses players in a vibrant story where unspeakable horrors lurk around every corner. DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNITED JUPITER COMPANY Set on Jupiter’s dead moon Callisto in the year 2320, the Callisto Protocol puts players in the role of Jacob Lee, an inmate of the Black Iron Prison. When a mysterious outbreak throws the moon into chaos, Jacob must face his darkest fears to defeat the bloodthirsty creatures that haunt him while unraveling the dark secrets at the heart of the mighty United Jupiter Company. MASTER OF BRUTAL STRATEGIC COMBAT The Callisto Protocol challenges players to master an exciting mix of melee and ranged combat, including a unique gravity weapon once used by Black Iron guards to control the prison population. Players are forced to get up close and personal with their grotesque foes, chopping off limbs, shooting off legs and getting creative with whatever at their disposal to survive each encounter to the death. EXPERIENCE THE ISOLATION OF JUPITER’S DEAD MOON Callisto, one of the most hostile, isolated environments in the universe, towers over Jacob’s desperate struggle for survival. Players must not only confront the horrors of Black Iron Prison, but also the centuries-old mysteries that plague Jupiter’s long-dead moon both above and below the surface.
