New Sci-Fi Horror Title End of Abyss Lands on Xbox Series X|S Tomorrow

Section 9 Interactive, a studio formed by three former Tarsier Studios veterans, is bringing their debut title, End of Abyss, to Xbox Series X|S starting October 1. The game places players in the shoes of Cel, a young combat technician navigating a sprawling, derelict facility buried deep underground.

From Top-Down Prototype to Atmospheric Horror

The team shared that the development process was a significant evolution for the project. Initially conceived as a traditional top-down shooter, the vision shifted as the developers leaned into exploration and tension-building. By combining top-down metroidvania mechanics with action-horror elements, Section 9 Interactive aimed to fill a specific niche in the genre.

“The media created around the 1980s and 1990s was usually a bit rough and had some manually created effects in video and sounds,” the team noted regarding their creative process. This desire to replicate a weathered, gritty aesthetic while maintaining a stylized sense of scale helped define the game’s eerie atmosphere. Players can expect a world that feels both decaying and uniquely “awkward,” designed to keep them on edge as they manage gear upgrades and discover tools necessary to progress further into the facility.

Enemy Design and Gameplay Focus

Development centered on creating enemies that serve specific gameplay functions. By utilizing Unreal Engine, the team prototyped various creatures and bosses, balancing familiar gaming tropes with original designs. The result is a world where enemies and environments are built to feel cohesive, emphasizing the sensation of a place that has been frozen in time for far too long.

Why it matters

For Xbox players looking for a new atmospheric challenge, End of Abyss offers a blend of metroidvania exploration and survival-focused combat. Because the game is launching exclusively on current-gen hardware, fans can expect the studio’s focus on stylized visuals and dynamic, tension-filled gameplay to leverage the performance capabilities of the Series X|S. If you enjoy games that prioritize a moody, weathered aesthetic and methodical exploration, this title is one to watch when it hits the storefront on October 1.