Outlast designer says that one playtester was so upset by the horror series they ‘ran out of the studio to go cry outside’ and didn’t return
Red Barrels’ Outlast series has earned a reputation for delivering horror content that goes beyond the typical boundaries of the genre, featuring graphic depictions of violence, gore, and nudity. In a recent conversation with GameSpot, co-founder Phillipe Morin revealed that the studio’s unflinching approach to horror has had significant emotional impacts not just on players, but on people working within the studio itself.
Morin disclosed that multiple instances have occurred where developers, playtesters, and others involved in the creation or testing of Outlast content have found the material so disturbing that it caused psychological distress. Most notably, one playtester became so emotionally affected during their session that they fled the studio to cry outside and never returned to complete their testing work.
These incidents highlight the intense and often challenging nature of creating extreme horror experiences. While the Outlast series has built its identity around pushing boundaries that most horror games shy away from, Morin’s account demonstrates that even those directly involved in crafting such content may find it difficult to manage from a psychological standpoint. The studio’s commitment to an uncompromising horror vision appears to come at a personal cost for those who engage with the material during development.