Outlast Trials Took 6 Years and Piles of Prototypes to Ship

Philippe Morin, co-founder of Red Barrels, shared that The Outlast Trials took six years to develop. Its initial playtests didn’t go well, as reported by PC Gamer. Morin expressed that the whole process was “a f**king long time” with “a s**t-ton of prototypes” involved.

This marks a departure for a studio known primarily for single-player horror experiences. The Outlast Trials diverges from the first two Outlast titles, and Morin’s comments indicate it took a while for the team to nail down the right approach.

PC Gamer’s article presents Morin’s insights as a glimpse into the challenges the game faced before its release. Key points include the lengthy six-year development, the huge number of prototypes created, and the tough early playtests. Morin made it clear that the development journey wasn’t easy.

The outcome is a game that’s performed well both commercially and among players. The Outlast Trials was released on March 5, 2024, priced at $39.99 on Steam. It currently boasts a 93% positive rating from 55,828 reviews, with around 18,610 players online at the time we looked.

Red Barrels continues to support the game. Update 1.60 included a hotfix for issues that appeared on July 16, and the latest patch notes in our records are from September 17, 2026. This suggests a commitment to a live-service model rather than just a one-time launch.

By The Numbers

By The Numbers

Development time	6 years
Release date	March 5, 2024
Steam reviews	93% positive (55,828 reviews)
Current players	18,610
Steam price	$39.99

Community Pulse

The community generally feels positive, with 10 tracked signals indicating a favorable response, but not everyone is completely convinced. One negative Steam reviewer described the game as “super mid” and claimed they “had more fun playing the lobby games.” Despite that, the game’s 93% positive score shows that this dissenting opinion is in the minority.

What To Watch

• Player retention: Keep an eye on concurrent player numbers compared to the 18,610 baseline as new updates are released. Player count clearly indicates if the live-service model is thriving.
• Patch cadence: The release of Update 1.60 and the September 17 patch notes reflect ongoing support. Watch to see if Red Barrels maintains this level of activity.
• Further developer commentary: Morin’s insights might hint at more details about the prototyping process and the studio’s approach to future projects.