Routine set to launch Dec 4, 2025 — sci‑fi horror arrives after a 13‑year wait
After more than a decade in development limbo, Lunar Software and publisher Raw Fury have confirmed a release date for Routine: December 4, 2025. The long‑teased sci‑fi horror game will arrive on Steam and Xbox, with day‑one availability on Xbox Game Pass.
Routine was first announced back at Gamescom 2012 with an expected 2013 release, but the project went dark for years before reemerging in 2022 with a full remake for modern hardware. The newly released teaser leans heavily into “Aliens”‑style dread: grainy visuals, retro tech, and lethal robots roaming an abandoned lunar facility.
What to expect
- Release date: December 4, 2025 (Steam and Xbox).
- Day‑one on Xbox Game Pass, offering immediate access for subscribers.
- Setting: an eerie, abandoned lunar base with exploration, survival horror, and hostile robots.
- Atmosphere: retro‑tech aesthetic, film‑grain presentation and tension‑driven design inspired by classic sci‑fi horror.
Why this matters
Routine’s long road — announced in 2012, resurfaced in 2022 and now finally launching in 2025 — highlights how indie projects can evolve and reinvent themselves across console generations. Its arrival on Game Pass also shows how subscription services continue to shape launch strategies for smaller studios, providing instant reach and a wider audience on day one.
Gameplay & tone
The teaser hints at slow‑burn exploration where players probe an abandoned base to uncover what went wrong before their arrival. Expect stealth, puzzle elements and tense encounters with lethal robots rather than fast‑paced action. The game’s design appears aimed at fans of atmospheric horror and methodical survival experiences.
For a closer look at the reveal, watch the teaser and read coverage here: Engadget’s report.
Discussion: After this long development saga, will you play Routine on day one via Game Pass, pick it up on Steam, or wait for reviews? What are you hoping Routine nails (atmosphere, AI, pacing)?