In 2016, Bethesda Softworks announced that Arkane Studios, the company behind theDishonoredseries, was working on a reboot of the 2006 video gamePrey. This new game, which was also titledPrey, had very little in common with the Human Head Studios-developed FPS, aside from sharing the same name and featuring aliens in some capacity. It, in fact, was intended to be a spiritual successor to theSystem Shockfranchise rather than a truePreyfollow-up. Nonetheless, the game was marketed as a reboot of 2006’sPreydue to corporate decisions from Bethesda higher-ups.
Arkane’sPreycame out in 2017 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, and it was fairly well-received in most respects. The game was included in several “Best Games of 2017” lists and was nominated in several categories at a few gaming award shows. The sales of 2017’sPrey, however, weren’t that impressive. The game sold 60% less in its opening week compared to Arkane’s prior title,Dishonored 2, and it wasn’t able to maintain a steady position in the weekly U.K. sales charts. Since Arkane Austin, the Texas-based Arkane studio behind this game,was shut down by parent company Microsoftin May 2024, the chances of a sequel toPreyever being released are very slim, but there is at least one upcoming title that may fill the void it’s left behind.
Judas May Not Be a Sequel to Arkane’s Prey, But It’s Still Pretty Close
The “Prey 2” mentioned in the headline of this article is not to be confused with the canceledPrey 2that was in development at Human Head Studios. That game was going to be a different title entirely.
Judas is a System Shock-Inspired Sci-Fi Game That’s Set on a Computer-Controlled Space Ship
Ken Levine, one of the lead developers behind theBioShockseries, is directing a new first-person sci-fi action game calledJudas. This game is the first title that he has worked on in more than 10 years, since the last project he directed was the 2013BioShock Infiniteexpansion,Burial at Sea. Developed by the Take Two subsidiary, Ghost Story Games,Judasis designed to be a spiritual successorto both theBioShockandSystem Shockfranchises, much like Arkane’sPrey. Even though the game hasn’t been officially marketed as an immersive sim, it features many of the elements from the genre, and its combat is somewhat slower-paced compared to other FPS titles.
Judasis set on a generation ship known as the Mayflower, which is carrying the last remnants of humanity to the second-closest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri. The ship is being run by three people with differing views on how to deal with humanity, and it’s being maintained by malicious computers that groom its human population and force them to be “upright citizens.” In the game, players step into the role ofa fierce female rebel named Judas, who is aiming to start a revolution against the leaders of the Mayflower.
Judas Emphasizes Player Freedom, In Terms of Both Gameplay and Narrative
Perhaps the biggest selling point ofJudaswill be the game’s branching story paths, or “narrative LEGOs,“as Ken Levine calls them. Many of the story outcomes inJudascan be modified or altered by the players, which is intended to make the game as replayable as possible. This “player choice” philosophy is reflected in the game’s combat and overall gameplay loop, as well. Gamers will be able to unlock a wide range of special abilities and weapons throughout their playthrough, and they will have the option to deal with groups of enemies in different ways, whether that be through stealth or overt attacks.
Although not every aspect ofJudassounds similar to Arkane’sPrey, the two games do still have a decent amount in common. Not only are they both set in outer space, but they’re also first-person shooters that prioritize player choice and immersion over linear, action-packed gameplay. Plus, it’s worth noting that some of the ex-Arkane Austin developers who worked onPreymay be involved inJudas’s development, asKen Levine stated back in May of last yearthat he was seeking to recruit employees from that studio.
