The gorgeous depths of the ocean has attracted players for years, perhaps most recently in the terrifying darkness of SOMA and the vibrant life of Abzu and Subnautica. Beyond Blue leans more toward the latter’s wonders of nature, but its realistic blue abyss and resource management means exploring the game’s near-future ocean is no simple task.
Beyond Blue drops the player in the ocean of the near future, in the scuba gear of researcher Mirai as she explores underwater with new technology. Blue’s ocean looks to be neither an oppressive crushing nightmare or a colorful artful submersed landscape, but the ocean of documentaries like Blue Planet: realistic aquatic ecosystem and darkening depths as you descend further from the sunlit surface.
Massive bait balls flanked by looming whales, octopi gliding along the ocean floor, tight underwater caverns, sharks and anglers, and other sights of the ocean ecosystem are the highlights of Beyond Blue‘s early footage and screenshots, although mentions of resource management and a larger narrative designed in tandem with input from oceanographic experts implies that the game will be more involved and plot-driven rather than being an experience merely focused on exploration.
Beyond Blue is slated to release in 2019, and can currently be wishlisted on Steam.
