The spiritual successor to SOMA will be released in 2026 on PC and consoles
Kepler Interactive and Frictional Games today revealed their new project Ontos, a sci-fi thriller that will be released for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series next year.
Featuring Golden Globe winner Stellan Skarsgård in its cast, Ontos was developed as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed SOMA by the capable Swedish development team, taking its immersive gameplay systems, storytelling and unprecedented world-building to a new level.
In Ontos, players control Aditi Amani, a skilled engineer, as she explores the abandoned moon base/resort Samsara in search of the truth about her estranged father. Samsara is a vast labyrinth built on the ruins of a failed mining colony, and players will explore this open, interconnected environment in their search for the truth. Every corner of the installation tells a story, and every story hides something beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered…
Players will need to scavenge useful items, manipulate complex machinery, and face intense tests of morality as they encounter horrific experiences across Samsara. There is no “one size fits all” solution to the obstacles players will encounter in Ontos. You’ll need to use wit and ingenuity to unravel the story’s mysterious conclusions and face the consequences of your choices.
“After more than a decade in development, it’s exciting to finally announce Ontos. It is by far our most ambitious project to date, in terms of scope, production values and thematic ambitions,” said Thomas Grip, creative director and co-founder of Frictional Games. “While SOMA addresses consciousness, Ontos aims to do the same with the very nature of reality. An ambitious and risky goal too. I think we’ve succeeded in creating something that does just that, a game that allows you to actively engage with the mysteries of existence. I personally can’t wait to see how players respond to it.”
Developed using its new proprietary HPL4 engine, Frictional Games’ most exciting work to date will be released in collaboration with Kepler Interactive, the publisher behind a selection of culturally resonant, bold and timeless games, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Rematch, Sifu, Pacific Drive and Ultros.
“Kepler is always drawn to teams like Frictional Games who share our passion for creativity and art that feels alive. ONTOS is bold, unsettling, and beautifully strange. It’s the kind of project that captures the magic of real authors and artists coming together to explore the strange and tell a story that can only exist in video games.” said Alexis Garavaryan, CEO of Kepler Interactive.
Ontos has already been teased in September 2025 through an innovative and immersive ARG (Alternate Reality Game) produced in collaboration with Kepler Interactive. Thanks to a mysterious clue found in SOMA’s tenth anniversary update on PC, players were able to discover a series of strange social media accounts, websites, and posts that led them to discover some early clues about the philosophical and local themes of Ontos’ story.
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