Still Wakes the Deep is a first-person, narrative horror set on an off-shore oil platform. It's built in Unreal Engine 5 by the studio The Chinese Room and will be published by Secret Mode.
You are an off-shore oil rig worker, fighting for his life through a vicious storm, perilous surroundings, and the dark, freezing North Sea waters. All lines of communication have been severed. All exits are gone. All that remains is to face the unknowable horror that's come aboard.
The Chinese Room and Secret Mode are honoured to reveal that two-time BAFTA award-winning composer Jason Graves will be lending his musical talents to the score of the upcoming horror game Still Wakes the Deep. The composer's involvement is detailed in a brand-new documentary focusing on the sounds and score of the game, unveiled as part of the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted event.
The Chinese Room is known for its magnificent, award-winning music, so it was important for the team to work with a composer who could deliver a world-class score to match the quality expected from its games. Jason Graves has been composing video game soundtracks for over 20 years, scoring the music for series such as Tomb Raider, Far Cry, and Moss. His outstanding horror credentials include the Dead Space franchise, Until Dawn, and The Dark Pictures Anthology.
To help match the feel and tone of Still Wakes the Deep, Graves commissioned a unique instrument just for the game's score. Known affectionately as "The Rig", this metal sound structure takes the shape of an oil rig and is used to create the unearthly, metallic sounds that permeate the game's score. To fill out the body of this sound, Graves also used a Moog Model D synthesiser, which adds another layer of eeriness when combined with The Rig.
Elsewhere in the documentary, fans will meet the quartet of musicians providing string and woodwinds for the more human elements of the soundtrack. Graves and The Chinese Room's audio team also discuss how they collaborated to bring the world of Still Wakes the Deep to life, and how a truly unexpected instrument made its way into the score.
"When I got the email from Daan [Hendriks, audio director] the first time, I was literally like, (gasps)," says Graves in the mini documentary. "The Chinese Room's right at the top of the list for me. All their games have always been so unique and so much fun to play."
Still Wakes the Deep is coming to the PC (Steam and Epic), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S in early 2024. Still Wakes the Deep will also launch with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC.
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