Geoff 'Zag' Keene, founder of Deep Field Games and lead on co-op survival title Abiotic Factor, has argued that many contemporary survival games fall flat because they emphasise mechanics at the expense of atmosphere. He reiterated the point on The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook, noting the remark echoes something he told PC Gamer in 2024. The developer’s comments land alongside his team’s attempt to blend Half-Life-adjacent influences with a stronger sense of mood and player experience.

  • Keene described a trend of survival titles becoming overly focused on mechanical depth and systems, which he feels can make them feel dull.
  • Abiotic Factor, developed by Deep Field Games, is framed as an exercise in combining co-op survival with richer environmental and tonal design.
  • His recent podcast appearance revisited a critique he originally voiced to PC Gamer in 2024, showing the comment wasn’t offhand but part of an ongoing viewpoint.
  • The point highlights a broader debate in game design: whether replayable systems or crafted atmosphere should drive player engagement in survival games.

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun

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