Kaidan vs Hell is Us

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: 3-Player Online Co-op (Drop-in/Drop-out)
• Setting: Japanese Folklore / Cosmic Horror
• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Release Window: TBA
• Unique Feature: A unique blend of Soulslike melee combat with a tense, replayable 'extraction-lite' gameplay loop set in a Japanese cosmic horror world.

• Multiplayer: Expected to be Single-Player Only
• Core Concept: A third-person action-adventure with a 'no hand-holding' exploration philosophy.
• Creative Director: Jonathan Jacques-Belletête
• Expected Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Status: In Development (Unannounced Release Date)

• Co-op Teammates: In the game's 3-player co-op mode, other players act as your companions. Team play is encouraged through unique synergies, allowing players to specialize in roles like tank, healer/debuffer, or DPS.
  Human (Player)

• The Drone: The protagonist's drone acts as a constant companion. It is the primary tool for interacting with the world, serving as a weapon, a reconnaissance tool, and potentially a key to solving puzzles.
  Mechanical

• Relics: Powerful artifacts that must be successfully extracted from Ikaiguchi. They are the primary items used to unlock new combat moves and powerful character upgrades.
• Lore Items: Found through exploration. The story unfolds through item descriptions and environmental storytelling rather than traditional cutscenes.

• Japanese Folklore
• Cosmic Horror
• Soulslike
• Extraction
• Dark Fantasy
• Survival
• Mythology

• Supernatural Horror
• Exploration
• Civil War
• Mystery
• Psychological
• Action-Adventure
• Minimalist HUD

• Katanas: Melee
  A balanced and iconic melee weapon, likely offering a mix of speed and precision.
• Polearms: Melee
  Long-reaching weapons like spears or naginatas, excellent for controlling space and keeping enemies at a distance.
• Axes: Melee
  Heavy, high-damage weapons designed to break through the guards of formidable Yokai.

• Drone/Sword Hybrid: Primary Weapon
  The protagonist's signature tool. It is a flying drone that can be used for exploration and as a ranged projectile. It can also be recalled and transformed into a powerful melee weapon for close-quarters combat.
• Conventional Firearms (Speculative): Sidearms / Rifles
  Given the civil war setting, players will likely be able to acquire conventional firearms from fallen soldiers, such as pistols and assault rifles, though these may be less effective against the supernatural entities.

• Armor Sets: Players can customize their Seeker with different armor sets and masks. In addition to providing defensive stats, these cosmetics can also influence gameplay and narrative by affecting how certain NPCs or Yokai interact with the player.

• Protagonist's Attire: The game does not appear to have a traditional armor system. The protagonist wears a practical, modern outfit. Upgrades are expected to be focused on the drone and character abilities rather than equippable armor pieces.

• Customizable Armor & Masks: Players can customize their Seeker's appearance with various armor sets, masks, and style sets. These are not just cosmetic, as they can also grant strengths, weaknesses, and passive bonuses that affect gameplay.

Progression is player-driven and tied to successful extractions. Players use gathered resources like blood, essence, and memory fragments to unlock permanent buffs and upgrade gear at a central hub. A 'Sigil' system acts as a skill tree, allowing players to unlock new combat moves and passive abilities. Weapons and gear can be crafted, upgraded, and enchanted.

The game features a large, interconnected world with multiple biomes, but is explored through mission-based 'incursions' or 'runs'. Each zone is a haunted, procedurally arranged area with its own unique Yokai, minibosses, and a final Chordbearer target. The world state can mutate between runs based on player actions.

• The Seeker: Playable Protagonist
  A lost soul resurrected by the Envoy, forced to fulfill a dark pact. The player's identity is intentionally vague, with progression and customization defining the character.
• The Envoy: Key NPC / Quest Giver
  A cryptic, mystical entity who holds power over the Seeker due to their pact. The Envoy guides the player and is central to the game's 'deal with the devil' allegory.
• The Chordbearers: Bosses
  The primary antagonists and main targets of the extraction missions. These are powerful, unique beings that anchor the corruption in each region of Ikaiguchi.

• Main Story Quests
  The main narrative will likely revolve around the player's self-directed investigation into the Calamity, discovering new regions and piecing together the central mystery through exploration rather than following a linear quest log.

• Q: What is Kaidan?
  A: Kaidan is an upcoming third-person melee action game that blends the challenging combat of Soulslikes with the high-stakes loop of extraction games, all set in a dark fantasy world inspired by Japanese folklore and cosmic horror.
• Q: Is it a multiplayer game?
  A: It is primarily a single-player experience but supports seamless drop-in/drop-out online co-op for up to three players.
• Q: What does 'Extraction-Lite' mean?
  A: It means the core gameplay loop involves entering a dangerous, procedurally-arranged zone, gathering resources and completing objectives, and then successfully escaping (extracting) to keep your loot. Failure can result in losing progress and items from that run.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: As of August 2025, there is no official release date for Kaidan. A playable demo has recently been shown at events like Gamescom 2025.

• Q: What is Hell is Us?
  A: It is an upcoming single-player, third-person action-adventure game set in a country torn by civil war and a supernatural event. It is known for its 'no hand-holding' design, meaning there will be no map, compass, or quest markers.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: As of August 2025, there is no official release date for Hell is Us, though the developer is targeting a 2025 release after being delayed from its original 2023 window.
• Q: Who is making the game?
  A: The game is being developed by Rogue Factor and published by Nacon. The project is led by Creative Director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, who was the art director for Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided.
• Q: What makes the gameplay unique?
  A: The main unique feature is its exploration philosophy. By removing all traditional navigational aids, the game forces players to be truly observant and explore the world organically. The protagonist's drone that transforms into a melee weapon is also a key feature.

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs were not provided, these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation title built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop. Actual performance would vary significantly based on the final game's optimization and the laptop's specific hardware configuration.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, eerie lighting, and heavy particle effects.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's intense, visually demanding boss fights will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of the Yokai and physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the timing-based melee combat.
• Game Name: Kaidan

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Hell is Us. This information is based on the official PC specifications from developer Rogue Factor, adapted to the requested JSON structure. As a visually ambitious title built on Unreal Engine 5, the requirements are significant, especially for higher settings. Crucially, the official specs were tested with upscaling (TSR/DLSS/FSR) enabled. Laptop and future-generation GPU listings are extrapolated based on performance benchmarks.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and thermal design. For a demanding Unreal Engine 5 title like Hell is Us, a laptop with a high-TGP GPU and a robust cooling system is critical for a stable and immersive experience.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: A high TGP is essential to prevent GPU throttling and maintain a consistent framerate while rendering the detailed environments and intense combat sequences.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Unreal Engine 5 can heavily tax both the CPU and GPU. An advanced cooling solution will be necessary to prevent thermal throttling during long gameplay sessions and graphically demanding moments.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A strong CPU with good power delivery is important for handling the game's world streaming, physics, and AI without creating a bottleneck for the GPU.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended to minimize system latency and ensure the smoothest possible gameplay experience.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The game supports a full suite of upscaling technologies, including NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, and Unreal's native TSR. The developers have explicitly stated that the official system requirements were determined with these features enabled.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: As a UE5 title, performance will be most affected by settings like Global Illumination (Lumen), Shadows, and Reflections. The 'Ultra' preset is noted to be extremely demanding, targeting visual fidelity over high framerates.
• Game Name: Hell is Us

• Upscaling Tech: The game supports a full suite of upscaling technologies, including NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, and Unreal's native TSR. The developers have explicitly stated that the official system requirements were determined with these features enabled.
• Key Settings Impact: As a UE5 title, performance will be most affected by settings like Global Illumination (Lumen), Shadows, and Reflections. The 'Ultra' preset is noted to be extremely demanding, targeting visual fidelity over high framerates.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, eerie lighting, and heavy particle effects.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's intense, visually demanding boss fights will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of the Yokai and physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the timing-based melee combat.

• G P U T G P: A high TGP is essential to prevent GPU throttling and maintain a consistent framerate while rendering the detailed environments and intense combat sequences.
• Cooling Thermals: Unreal Engine 5 can heavily tax both the CPU and GPU. An advanced cooling solution will be necessary to prevent thermal throttling during long gameplay sessions and graphically demanding moments.
• C P U Power Limits: A strong CPU with good power delivery is important for handling the game's world streaming, physics, and AI without creating a bottleneck for the GPU.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended to minimize system latency and ensure the smoothest possible gameplay experience.