Red Barrels Unveils PROJECT LUPARA: A New Villain, Map, Trials, and More
Renowned indie horror developer Red Barrels has rolled out the first major update for their latest horror title, The Outlast Trials. This update introduces a brand-new antagonist, Franco Barbi, aka ‘Il Bambino,’ a gun-toting mobster with a penchant for mayhem. This is a significant addition to the Outlast universe as players will now encounter a villain wielding a sawed-off shotgun, making evasion and survival even more intense. Franco prowls “The Docks,” the new map featured in this update, which goes live on July 16th for PC, PlayStation®, and Xbox®.
What’s New in The Outlast Trials?
This update, dubbed Project Lupara, is packed with new content:
- New Villain: Franco “Il Bambino” Barbi: Franco is the depraved son of New Orleans mob boss Salvatore Barbi. His violent and psychosexual tendencies are exacerbated by his impotence and insecurities, making him a formidable and twisted foe.
- New Map: “The Docks”: Navigate Franco’s drug manufacturing hub, solve deadly puzzles, and avoid his lethal tantrums to survive.
- New Trials & MK-Challenges: Engage in new story-driven and challenge-based trials:
- Poison the Medicine: Confront Franco in his home turf, The Docks.
- Mansion Escape: Experience evolving difficulties and a new ending in the Farewell Mansion Trial.
- Fuel the Release: Power the court by transporting fuel to secure your freedom.
- Teach the Police Officer: Corrupt the precinct’s training materials for Murkoff’s gain.
Additional Features
- New Game Mode: Escalation Therapy: A rogue-lite mode where players face a series of randomized Trials until they meet Permadeath. Start with nothing and upgrade as you survive longer for greater rewards.
- New Player Ability: The Barricade: This ability lets players block paths, giving them time to complete objectives while slowing down pursuers.
- Difficulty Options: Choose from Introductory, Standard, Intense, and Psychosurgery settings.
- New Lobby Mini-Game: Stroop Effect Test: Test your cognitive abilities by selecting the correct color of a word, where the word spells a different color.
- Daily & Weekly Tasks: Complete tasks to earn rewards and enhance your character.
- Introduction of Catalogs: Customize your character with new cosmetics in the Standard and Deluxe catalogs, including the Project Lupara collection.
Special Events and DLC
- The Bambino Special Event: For the first four weeks post-update, Franco will appear in specific Trials and MK-Challenges, including those set in The Docks.
- New DLC: “The Exotica Pack”: Available for $19.99, this pack includes legendary outfits, cell items, posters, and player icons.
Comic Book Expansion
- New MURKOFF COLLECTIONS Comic Book Chapter: Chapter 3, detailing Franco ‘Il Bambino’ Barbi’s backstory, releases on July 12.
About The Outlast Trials
Set in 1959 during the Cold War, The Outlast Trials plunges players into Murkoff Corporation’s experiments, testing methods of mind control. This 4-player co-op game combines escape room-style puzzles with survival horror elements, where players must use stealth, speed, and teamwork to survive. Discover the dark secrets of Murkoff’s experiments and face unimaginable horrors.
The Outlast Trials is available digitally on PC, PlayStation®, and Xbox®. For the latest updates, visit Red Barrels’ Website, Instagram, Twitter, Discord, Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook.
About Red Barrels
Founded by industry veterans, Red Barrels has terrified millions with their immersive horror series, Outlast. The studio aims to create chilling experiences that leave players’ blood running cold. With a team that has contributed to renowned franchises like Prince of Persia, Assassin’s Creed, and Splinter Cell, Red Barrels continues to push the boundaries of horror gaming.
For more on the Outlast series and Red Barrels, check out their official site.