'Callisto Protocol' Development Head Papoutsis CDO... "Will Be a Satisfying Horror Experience"

Steve Papoutsis, Head of Development at Striking Distance Studios, is conducting an interview on the 17th at BEXCO, Busan, during 'G-Star 2022'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The global new release from Krafton, "The Callisto Protocol," is just two weeks away from launch. Even before its release, The Callisto Protocol has captured the attention of gamers worldwide due to its high level of completion and the unique genre of horror action.

At the international game exhibition "G-STAR 2022" held on the 17th at BEXCO in Busan, Steve Papoutsis, Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Striking Distance Studios (SDS), the developer of The Callisto Protocol, expressed confidence in the game during an interview with Asia Economy.

CDO Papoutsis said, "After three and a half years of development, the release is imminent. Despite the global difficulties caused by COVID-19, we were able to create this opportunity thanks to a talented team," adding, "Along with the uniqueness of the horror action genre, players will experience fun and satisfying horror through various combat systems."

The Callisto Protocol, developed by Krafton's independent studio SDS, will be simultaneously released worldwide on consoles and Steam on the 2nd of next month. Even before its release, the game has attracted global gamers' attention with the participation of Glenn Schofield, the developer of the iconic horror action game "Dead Space," who is also the CEO of SDS, alongside CDO Papoutsis. The game's universe, main settings, and design also follow the style of Dead Space.

CDO Papoutsis explained that during development, they did their best to emphasize the development philosophy of creating "the ultimate survival horror." Despite the game's brutality causing it to fail to receive an age rating from the Japanese rating board, they chose not to revise the problematic parts for re-evaluation.

He emphasized, "Establishing a vision when developing a game is extremely important," and added, "We focused on ensuring players could experience the ultimate survival horror, and we did not want to compromise our vision for the sake of ratings."

Callisto Protocol Image

CDO Papoutsis cited the diverse combat systems as a unique strength of The Callisto Protocol. The game balances melee and ranged combat at a 50:50 ratio. Players can engage in melee combat by grabbing and throwing enemies, use ranged attacks, utilize the surrounding environment in battles, and employ a variety of weapons.

Additionally, The Callisto Protocol features audio that enhances immersion in the action horror genre. Papoutsis said, "Sound is a very important element in the gaming experience. Our team put great effort into audio work that heightens immersion and tension," adding, "The death scenes, which are uniquely produced for each enemy encountered, are also a special feature."

For domestic gamers unfamiliar with the horror action genre, Papoutsis advised, "I hope they overcome challenges to survive." Since survival is the core focus of the horror action genre, immersing oneself in the game naturally leads to becoming deeply engaged.

He also praised Krafton's development capabilities, stating, "We received a lot of advice from Krafton developers during the final stages of development," and "We got feedback on many things we hadn't considered, and they were a great help when we suddenly had to switch to remote work due to COVID-19."

He continued, "I believe PUBG and Krafton have opened the door to a new level in the video game genre world," and said, "I think it's amazing that Krafton creates games that inspire many people around the world."

Finally, he expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you to Korean users for your interest," and added, "I hope this will be an opportunity to create great memories with friends through a scary and fun experience."