Ukrainian developer Frogwares has finally resurfaced with significant news about their highly anticipated horror sequel after a year of relative silence. The studio has released new footage and opened crowdfunding to help complete the project despite ongoing challenges.
A Year in the Making
Exactly one year after its initial announcement, Frogwares has unveiled the first pre-alpha gameplay trailer for The Sinking City 2. The new footage showcases the developer's shift toward a horror first approach while maintaining elements of the investigation gameplay that has become their signature style. Alongside the main trailer, the team has published a developer deep dive that provides more detailed insights into their plans for combat, exploration, and the optional investigation mechanics that will be featured in the game.
Kickstarter Campaign Launches
Accompanying the new trailer, Frogwares has officially launched a Kickstarter campaign to secure additional funding for the project. The campaign aims to raise a minimum of USD $105,000 (approximately €100,000) to help bring the game to completion. Remarkably, within hours of the campaign's launch, backers had already contributed nearly double the initial goal, demonstrating strong community support for the project with 29 days still remaining in the funding period.
Development Amid Adversity
The need for crowdfunding stems directly from the extraordinary circumstances facing the Ukrainian studio. CEO Wael Amr explained that after three years of war in Ukraine, the team has had to adapt to numerous challenges including power outages, emergency relocations, and periodic development pauses. The Kickstarter campaign is intended to create a financial safety net similar to what helped the studio successfully complete and release Sherlock Holmes The Awakened in 2023.
Evolving the Franchise
Frogwares Publishing Director Sergiy Oganesyan elaborated on the studio's new direction for the sequel, noting that while The Sinking City 2 won't abandon the investigation elements that fans appreciated in the original game, the team is prioritizing horror, combat, and exploration. The investigation aspects will remain but have been repositioned as optional content that adds depth to the experience without being mandatory.
Technical Advancements
The Sinking City 2 represents a significant technical step forward for Frogwares, being developed in Unreal Engine 5. The game is planned for release on PC (via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG) as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X, though no specific release date has been announced yet.
The Sinking City 2 Development Details
- Developer: Frogwares (Ukraine)
- Engine: Unreal Engine 5
- Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X
- Kickstarter Goal: USD $105,000 / €100,000
- Genre Focus: Horror first, with optional investigation elements
Past Challenges Overcome
This new chapter comes after Frogwares successfully resolved a complicated publishing rights dispute over the original The Sinking City. The legal battle with former PC publisher Nacon had resulted in the game being temporarily removed from several platforms in 2020. Fortunately, Frogwares secured full publishing rights last year and announced that all disputes had been settled, clearing the path for this sequel's development.