First-person sci-fi horror gameRoutineis still being worked on and is “beginning to approach the finish line,” according to developer Lunar Software.Routinewas first revealed all the way back in 2012 and initially had a 2013 release window, though after hitting a number of development roadblocks, Lunar Software decided to shelve the game indefinitely, only to pick development back up again a decade later, in 2022, with the support of indie publisher Raw Fury.
Summer Game Fest 2022 was the site ofRoutine’s surprise reappearance. Its 90-second gameplay trailer impressed sci-fi horror fans with its 1970s-style environments, 80s-inspired tech, and dark, moody atmosphere. The game’s scanline-infused aesthetic stood out against the crowd of other big sci-fi horror games being shown off at the time, some at that very same showcase, and it was at the end of this new trailer thatRoutineconfirmed itsday one Xbox Game Pass launch.
Despite a promising reappearance, it’s now been three years since, with nothing but radio silence from Lunar Software onRoutine,until now. Lunar Software made a shortpost on Steamgiving fans a brief update on the state of the game. Titled “Heartbeat,” the post mentions that the development ofRoutineis going smoothly, and the three-person team is now excitedly approaching the home stretch. Lunar also broke the bad news thatacclaimed composer Mick Gordon, known mainly for the explosiveDoom(2016) andDoom Eternalsoundtracks, parted ways withRoutinea year ago, though the team has been permitted to use his work in the final game.
Lunar Software Gives Promising Update on Routine
While some have undoubtedly been displeased withRoutine’s three years of radio silence, the game was able to get away from the 2022 and 2023 sci-fi horror hotspot, where games likeThe Callisto Protocol,EA’sDead Spaceremake,Fort Solis, and others dominated the horror spotlight. With those massive titles out of the way,Routinewill surely be able to have an easier time standing out when it releases than back around its 2022 re-reveal. Lunar Software’s Steam post didn’t giveRoutineany sort of new release window, but if the studio truly is approaching the finish line as it says, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it release sometime in 2026, though this is pure speculation.
WithGamescom Opening Night Live right around the cornerand The Game Awards set for the end of the year as usual, there’s a chanceRoutinecould appear with a new trailer on either of these stages. It was at a Geoff Keighley event that the game made its reappearance, soRoutinepopping up at another Keighley show would make sense. The bigger question would be whether the potential new trailer ends with a release date. Perhaps a PlayStation version may also be confirmed, since as of now,Routineis coming only to Xbox and PC.
