New Sci-Fi Thriller from Immortality Studio Started as Concept for FMV Metroid Game

At the first Kinetic Publishing showcase, Sam Barlow and his team at Half Mermaid unveiled some intriguing details about their upcoming project, “Project C,” officially titled Precognition. This FMV horror game centers on a woman who experiences visions of the future, stemming from an idea Barlow initially conceived for an FMV Metroid game.

While no gameplay footage was shown, we got a glimpse into the game’s premise. Precognition is a sci-fi/horror/thriller that follows Diana, a woman with a brain implant that allows her to see her future. She organizes these visions as “memories” of events she hasn’t yet experienced. By focusing on a moment and committing it to memory, she inadvertently alters the future.

Fans of Barlow’s previous titles (like Immortality, Her Story, and Telling Lies) might have an idea of what to expect. The game is described as non-linear, emphasizing player choice and freedom, and it may involve a “notebook” mechanic where players take notes to unravel the story. Additionally, Canadian director and writer Brandon Cronenberg has joined the project as a writer.

In a Q&A session prior to the announcement, Barlow shared the unexpected origins of the game. He revealed that the concept stemmed from his long-held idea for an FMV Metroid game, which he found too dark to pitch as a Samus Aran adventure. Barlow explained:

The initial concept for Precognition came from my daydreams about creating an FMV Metroid game. I’m a huge Metroid fan, and anyone who follows my tweets knows that Her Story was influenced by Metroid Prime. The screen reflection mechanics were inspired by the visor effects in Metroid, which reminded players of their identity while enhancing immersion.

I would jokingly mention this FMV Metroid idea to Nintendo, but I could never fully develop it. I often have ideas that sit on the shelf until they come together into a complete experience. One day, I realized there was a dark twist to the story that suddenly made everything click. The structure, themes, and mechanics aligned, revealing a much darker narrative than anything my beloved Nintendo would typically handle. That realization was the spark for this project.

As a fan of Barlow and Half Mermaid’s work, I’m even more excited about Precognition, set to launch on PC via Steam, PS5, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch 2 in spring 2028. Just to clarify, this should not be confused with Project D, which is another game from Half Mermaid that has yet to be detailed.