This page mixes confirmed information with industry rumors and speculation. We’ll keep it updated as new details and leaks come to light.
Frictional Games, the developers behind the popular SOMA and Amnesia: The Bunker, have created a new experience, titled ONTOS. Adding to Frictional Games’ already impressive horror catalogue, this new sci-fi horror promises an unnerving adventure where “you must be prepared to face the consequences” of your actions.
Although first announced at The Game Awards 2025, an ARG teasing ONTOS came out in September 2025, which fans eagerly got involved with. Now that players have been able to take a closer look at the twisted world of this new experience, they’re hungrier than ever to find out more. What lurks in the dark, and can reality be trusted?
The Escapist recaps
- ONTOS is an upcoming sci-fi horror game from Frictional Games, the developers behind iconic horror experiences, such as SOMA and the Amnesia franchise.
- ONTOS was first teased in an ARG, titled Hotel Samsara, and was then officially announced at The Game Awards.
- Currently, there’s no ONTOS release date save for the vague launch window of 2026.
- This horror experience takes place at the Samsara outpost and will challenge players to question what’s real and what’s not as they delve deeper into its mysteries, similarly to SOMA.
- As seen in the ONTOS trailer, this is a first-person, narratively rich experience in which the choices you make shape your future.
When could ONTOS be released?
ONTOS’ release window is 2026, with no specific release date beyond that.
Industry speculation regarding ONTOS’ release has been surprisingly quiet. Usually, rumors are rife once a game is announced, yet nobody has even guessed when in 2026 the title might launch. Erring on the side of caution, a summer or later launch date feels safe to suggest, though if The Escapist learns otherwise, we’ll be sure to inform you.
Expected ONTOS price & pre-orders
The ONTOS release price is yet to be determined.
When Amnesia: The Bunker launched in 2023, it retailed for $24.99. Using this information, combined with price inflation since 2023, we can estimate a $30 price tag for ONTOS, give or take.
No pre-order option is available; however, you can wishlist the title on your preferred platform. Frictional Games, by and large, isn’t big on pre-order options for its releases – its focus is on the game rather than gimmicks or exclusive bonuses. As a result, it’s best to expect no pre-orders for ONTOS.
ONTOS platforms
ONTOS will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com).
Each of these platforms currently has the option to wishlist the game to ensure you’re informed of when the ONTOS release date is announced.
ONTOS trailer & gameplay analysis
Due to ONTOS having an “immersive narrative”, the ONTOS trailer has a cinematic quality; gameplay is still shown, but it’s brief. From what’s shared in the trailer, the title is a first-person experience, just like previous Frictional Games releases.
The protagonist has gone looking for answers about their estranged father, but seemingly stumbles upon something far more “mind-bending”. The way in which you have several key characters you interact with, one of which is voiced by Stellan Skarsgård, is very similar to BioShock and Judas.
The choices you make have consequences, of which you need to be prepared to deal with. Moreover, you’ll “scavenge materials, manipulate intricate machinery, and engage with analog systems requiring careful calibration and hands-on interaction.”
In short, ONTOS is a thriller-cum-puzzle game where the stakes are incredibly high. Players will have to participate in strange experiments, with each one inviting you “to peel back another layer of a world that takes you one step closer to the ultimate truth.”
While it’s not mentioned specifically in the ONTOS trailer, its caption reveals that the title is the spiritual successor to SOMA. Given how much the protagonist will be questioning reality while navigating a hostile environment, it’s very similar to SOMA; the only difference is that ONTOS takes place in space rather than the ocean.
Ask The Escapist
At this moment in time, there are no plans for ONTOS to release on the Switch 2. That said, it could eventually happen. Both SOMA and Amnesia: Collection are available on the original Switch, which does suggest an eventual port for Frictional Games’ new title. This hasn’t been confirmed, however.
Currently, it’s unclear whether ONTOS will be compatible with the Steam Deck. Although the ONTOS trailer revealed it’ll be available on Steam, how well it runs on the Deck, if it runs at all, is unknown. Still, while it hasn’t been officially confirmed, other Frictional titles are said to run “flawlessly” on the Deck, and so ONTOS should as well.
ONTOS is a spiritual successor rather than a direct sequel to SOMA, and so it’s not vital for you to have played SOMA beforehand. That being said, the concepts explored in SOMA continue to be explored in ONTOS, meaning playing SOMA first would give you more context.
While we wait for ONTOS’ release date, there are several exceptional horror experiences from Frictional Games you should check out. Here are the top five ones to play while we wait.
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