Animal Use Protocol will launch on PC through Steam and GOG, though The Brotherhood has not set a firm release date yet. This new sci-fi horror game puts you in control of Penn, a bright chimp leading lab animals out of a ruined facility. From what we’ve seen, the game blends the prowling dread of Alien: Isolation with the tight resource play of Amnesia: The Bunker. The teaser video “Run, Run, Run” debuted at the Second Wind Games Showcase after beating 2,000 other entries. Built on Unreal Engine 5, this first-person survival story aims to keep you on edge.
Quick Facts: What You Need to Know
- Developer: The Brotherhood (makers of STASIS)
- Engine: Unreal Engine 5
- Platforms: PC via Steam and GOG
- Release Date: To be announced
- Protagonist: Penn, a hyper-intelligent chimpanzee
- Companion: Trip, a loyal rat
- Key Tool: Gravity control device
- Threat: A monstrous chimaera
- Setting: Anchorage Station, a dystopian lab
Animal Use Protocol Blends Horror Icons
The Brotherhood knows how to craft fear. With Animal Use Protocol, they pull from the best parts of modern survival horror. We watched the teaser and felt the same stomach drop we got from hiding in lockers while the Xenomorph hunted us in Alien: Isolation. The team also seems to borrow the “save your bullets and fuel” stress that made Amnesia: The Bunker so hard to put down.
You play as Penn. You aren’t a soldier. You’re a test subject who grew smarter than the doctors planned. Your only friend is Trip, a small rat who rides along. Together, you must slip through the dark halls of Anchorage Station without making a sound. The game gives you a gravity tool to move objects and solve puzzles, but it won’t stop the thing that stalks you.
The Hunter in the Vents
The enemy here isn’t a zombie or a ghost. It’s a chimaera—a patchwork beast built from failed tests. Based on our experience watching the trailer, this creature reacts to noise. The tagline warns, “It’s listening.” That means every footstep and every knocked-over cup could bring death. We tested the sound design through our headphones, and the heavy breathing mixed with metal screeches sent chills down our spines.
More Than Just Jump Scares
True to The Brotherhood’s past work, this isn’t just about monsters popping out. The studio wrote STASIS and STASIS: BONE TOTEM, both known for deep, sad stories. We expect Animal Use Protocol to ask hard questions about animal testing and what makes us human. The writing should hit as hard as the horror.
Unreal Engine 5 Pushes the Fear
The game runs on Unreal Engine 5, and it shows. Light bounces off wet floors in ways that make the whole station feel alive. Shadows stretch long and hide dark corners. When Penn moves, his fur looks real enough to touch. This tech helps sell the world. Anchorage Station feels like a place where bad things happened, not just a set of gray halls.
The “Run, Run, Run” teaser proves this visual power. Out of 2,000 games sent to the Second Wind Games Showcase, The Brotherhood earned a spot at the debut event. That speaks to the raw pull of the footage. We saw Penn scramble through vents while the chimaera tore through metal behind him. The frame rate stayed smooth even when sparks flew and pipes burst.
How It Stacks Up to Other Sci-Fi Horror Games
Fans of survival horror PC games have plenty to pick from, but Animal Use Protocol carves its own path. Unlike Resident Evil, where you shoot your way out, Penn can’t just fight. You must think. The gravity tool recalls Half-Life 2’s physics, but here it serves stealth, not combat. You might float a crate to block a door or drop a heavy box to distract the beast.
Against Alien: Isolation, this game shares the “one monster that won’t stop” idea. But Penn’s toolset and his bond with Trip add fresh layers. You aren’t alone with a motion tracker. You have a partner who can squeeze into small vents you cannot. That changes how you solve problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Animal Use Protocol coming out?
The Brotherhood has not shared a release date yet. They promise more news soon. For now, you can wishlist the game on Steam and GOG to get updates when the date drops.
What platforms will Animal Use Protocol be on?
The game is coming to PC only at launch. It will be available on Steam and GOG. The developers have not confirmed console ports yet.
Who is making Animal Use Protocol?
The Brotherhood, an indie team from South Africa, is building the game. They created the point-and-click horror titles STASIS and STASIS: BONE TOTEM. This is their first full 3D first-person horror game.
What kind of game is Animal Use Protocol?
It is a first-person survival horror game with stealth and puzzle elements. You play as a chimp escaping a lab while a monster hunts you. You use a gravity tool and work with a rat companion to survive.
Is there a trailer for Animal Use Protocol?
Yes. The teaser trailer “Run, Run, Run” premiered at the Second Wind Games Showcase. You can watch it on the official Steam and GOG pages or on The Brotherhood’s website.
Add Animal Use Protocol to your wishlist today and prepare for one of the most tense sci-fi horror games headed to PC this year.
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