Amnesia and SOMA Developer Frictional Games Teases Next Project in Eerie Trailer
Frictional Games, the acclaimed studio behind Amnesia and the sci-fi horror masterpiece SOMA, has begun teasing its next project with a cryptic and unsettling trailer simply titled “Frictional_Next_Project.mp4.”
The trailer features a slow series of zooms and pans across unsettling spaces: a grand hall that seems abandoned, sterile environments resembling a research lab, and unsettling hidden corridors behind walls. Layered across these shots are faint, distorted echoes of chanting voices, indecipherable but haunting, set against a dark and moody atmosphere that immediately calls back to the studio’s signature horror style.
Adding to the mystery, the video description links to a website for Hotel Samsara. The site appears to be fictional, yet its imagery matches locations glimpsed in the trailer. Visitors are invited to sign up for updates but are prompted with a peculiar question: “Are you one of many, or one and only?” The cryptic phrasing has only fueled speculation that this is more than a simple marketing campaign, but a narrative puzzle in line with Frictional’s immersive storytelling.
Unsurprisingly, fans have already begun dissecting the clues. Some community members strongly believe the project could tie into the SOMA universe, pointing to overlapping visual themes of research facilities and existential undertones. The theory has gained traction to the point that players have collaborated on a shared spreadsheet cataloging potential hints and connections between the trailer, Hotel Samsara, and SOMA’s lore.
Frictional Games has a reputation for blurring the lines between traditional game marketing and interactive mystery. The studio previously built anticipation for Amnesia: Rebirth and Amnesia: The Bunker through similarly cryptic teasers that rewarded close observation and community collaboration. If history repeats itself, the current campaign may evolve into a larger ARG-style event leading up to a full reveal.
Whether this will ultimately be a return to the world of SOMA or something entirely new, the initial teaser confirms that Frictional is once again leaning into psychological horror, existential dread, and environmental storytelling. For longtime fans of the studio, this teaser is already enough to reignite anticipation for what could be one of the most intriguing horror announcements in years.
Do you think this is the beginning of a new SOMA entry, or is Frictional preparing something completely original?
