The Outlast Trials’ initial playtests went poorly: Designer says 6-year development took ‘a fking long time’ and ‘a st-ton of prototypes’
Red Barrels’ The Outlast Trials took six years of challenging development before launching in early access, with co-founder Philippe Morin revealing that the journey involved significant creative struggle and numerous prototypes. In a recent interview with Gamespot, Morin described the extended timeline as “a fucking long time,” underscoring the difficulties the studio faced in transforming a concept for a co-op Outlast game into a playable product.
The development challenges were substantial from the outset, with initial playtests proving unsuccessful. Despite these early setbacks, Red Barrels persisted through “a shit-ton of prototypes” to eventually arrive at a version deemed ready for public testing through early access. This iterative approach highlights how even critically successful games often require extended development cycles and multiple failed attempts before reaching a viable state.
The six-year timeline, while lengthy by industry standards, demonstrates the complexity of developing a multiplayer-focused entry in an established franchise. Morin’s candid comments about the development process offer insight into the often-hidden struggles of game creation, challenging the notion that polished games result from smooth development processes. Instead, The Outlast Trials exemplifies how persistence through failed prototypes and extensive iteration can eventually produce a game ready for the market.