Anomaly Is Back in Active Development
Anomaly is back in active development It's been a while. The last update was over three years ago now; that's too long, and I know that. Anomaly started as a small horror game built around a LiDAR-scanning gimmick, inspired by Scanner Somber, the LiDAR.EXE mod, and the Backrooms.
Anomaly is back in active development
It's been a while.
The last update was over three years ago now; that's too long, and I know that.
Anomaly started as a small horror game built around a LiDAR-scanning gimmick, inspired by Scanner Somber, the LiDAR.EXE mod, and the Backrooms. But I got busy and was never able to finish it. Life happens. I've decided to pick it back up, and I want to do it right this time.
What's changing
The entire codebase is being thrown out. Anomaly is being rebuilt from scratch in HELVE, an engine I've been building myself. That's not a small decision; it means starting over on everything. But the old foundation had years of compromises baked into it, and patching around them wasn't getting the game anywhere. A clean rebuild is the only way I can make Anomaly what it should have been.
Years ago, I promised a list of features that never showed up. Those are finally getting built:
Better performance
More capable, intelligent enemies
Additional modes
Multiplayer
Modding support
A story mode
The Steam page is getting a full redo. New capsule art, new screenshots, new description; the store page hasn't honestly reflected the game for a long time, and that changes, too.
A new trailer is in production, built from the rebuilt game rather than old footage.
I will be launching a full timeline here soon, showing the map and the features (and their details) included in this final version.
What's not changing
The core of Anomaly. Get dropped into the dark. Using your LiDAR to see. Finding your way out before something finds you first. All of that is staying. That idea was always the point. The rebuild is about finally giving it the execution it deserves.
Timeline
I'm not going to throw out a release date yet; there is still a lot in the air right now. I'll post progress updates here as milestones actually happen, not on a schedule.
Why post this now
Because if you wishlisted, bought, or followed this game and then watched it go quiet, you deserve to know it's not abandoned, at least not anymore... I'd rather tell you it's in progress now, with real work behind that claim, than stay silent until it's done.
More soon, including the first look at the rebuild.
- Firelight