Sci-fi horror game Routine resurfaces after 13 years, nears completion
▼ Summary
– Steam Greenlight was Valve’s short-lived user-voting system for game approvals, later replaced by a $100 fee for store access.
– Routine, a moon-base horror game inspired by ’70s sci-fi, was an early Greenlight success but faced repeated delays and disappearances.
– After a 2022 re-reveal, Routine vanished again, but developers recently confirmed it’s still in active development and nearing completion.
– Mick Gordon, the original composer, left the project in 2024 due to scheduling conflicts, but his work will remain in the final game.
– The game’s long development (since 2012) raises questions about its relevance, especially after similar titles like Alien: Isolation emerged.
After more than a decade of silence and false starts, the long-lost sci-fi horror game Routine is finally nearing completion. What began as a promising project during Steam’s Greenlight era has resurfaced with fresh updates, though its developers remain cautious about setting a release date.
Originally announced in 2012, Routine captivated players with its eerie moon-base setting and retro-futuristic aesthetic, blending survival horror with vintage sci-fi visuals. Despite early hype and a successful Greenlight campaign, the game repeatedly missed its projected launch windows before vanishing entirely. A brief reappearance in 2022 reignited hope, only for the project to go quiet once again.
Now, the small team at Lunar Software has broken its silence with a reassuring, if vague, update. In a recent Steam post, they confirmed that development is still active and progressing toward completion, though they’ve wisely avoided committing to a timeline. “We’ve learned from past mistakes,” the studio admitted, emphasizing their focus on finishing the game properly rather than rushing to meet deadlines.
To soften the blow of yet another delay, the developers shared new screenshots showcasing Routine’s haunting atmosphere. However, they also revealed that composer Mick Gordon, known for his work on DOOM and Wolfenstein, departed the project last year due to scheduling conflicts. While his contributions will remain in the final game, an unnamed audio team has taken over to complete the sound design.
The question now is whether Routine can still make an impact after so many years in limbo. Games like Alien: Isolation have since explored similar themes, potentially diluting Routine’s novelty. Yet, for fans who’ve waited patiently, the chance to finally experience this long-gestating horror adventure may be worth the wait.
Here’s hoping Routine’s next update isn’t another revival, but a release. After 13 years of development hell, the team deserves to cross the finish line. And players deserve to see if the game lives up to its once-groundbreaking vision.
(Source: PC Gamer)
