Sam Barlow’s next interactive thriller is Precognition
Sam Barlow, the lead designer and writer behind Silent Hill: Origins and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, has revealed the final name of his previously announced game, formerly known as Project C. Precognition is a live-action science-fiction horror game from Half Mermaid Productions.
Barlow is also known for the independent narrative games Her Story, Telling Lies and Immortality. The new project continues his interest in cinematic storytelling, giving players room to investigate events and shape the experience.
A live-action story built around future visions
Precognition follows Diana, who develops the ability to see possible futures after an experimental implant is placed in her brain. The game combines filmed sequences with a non-linear structure, allowing players to explore its story in different ways. A news release describes the project as a science-fiction thriller focused on player freedom and agency.
The narrative is designed around cause and effect. Decisions influence how the story develops, with Diana’s visions opening up a shifting set of possibilities. Half Mermaid says the team is aiming for an authentic science-fiction horror experience rather than a straightforward linear adventure.
Brandon Cronenberg joins the creative team
Filmmaker Brandon Cronenberg is also working on Precognition. He directed Infinity Pool, which stars Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth.
Cronenberg’s work often places audiences inside a distorted and intensely personal viewpoint. That approach aligns with Barlow’s interactive design, where each player’s investigation can produce a different understanding of the events on screen.
“The films I make tend to be subjective and experiential, with the horror emerging as one person’s perspective of the world warps around them,” Cronenberg said in the project’s press release.
Barlow said Half Mermaid has been testing the boundaries of non-linear storytelling, concentrating on how the game feels to play while preserving player agency and freedom.
Precognition joins Kinetic Publishing’s first slate
Precognition has joined Kinetic Publishing, the publishing label launched by Phasmophobia developer Kinetic Games earlier in 2026. The label says its purpose is to give independent developers support without removing their creative control. Its announced lineup includes five games.
- Contact Protocol — planned for spring 2027. This starship job simulator is set in a gritty cassette-future, where humanity has expanded across the solar system to extract its resources.
- Crescent County — planned for summer 2027. It is an open-world adventure with witch-tech themes, motorbroom travel, deliveries, customisation, racing, relationships and a search for home.
- Precognition — planned for spring 2028. Diana uses her ability to see the future to navigate branching possibilities and alter the world for better or worse.
- Shellbound — planned for summer 2028. Described as a post-Metroidvania set on a gigantic snail, it combines platforming, puzzles, combat, enemy control and ecosystem evolution.
- Aether Wizard Life — planned for autumn 2028. This cosy adventure follows a young wizard’s apprenticeship in a haunted town filled with magic, mystery and romance, with influences from Studio Ghibli and classic hand-drawn 2D games.
The complete publisher lineup is available through Kinetic Games’ publishing page. For more gaming news, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog and browse the latest arcade videos.
Why arcade fans may want to watch it
Although Precognition is not an arcade title, its emphasis on discovery, branching outcomes and cinematic presentation could appeal to players who enjoy atmospheric horror and unusual interactive formats. It is still several years from its planned spring 2028 release, and no further launch details are provided here.
Readers considering a dedicated gaming setup can compare options in RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide, explore available arcade machines or look at space-saving bartop arcades.
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