Serbian game development duo Filip Pantic and Marko Abu Samra, who previously worked at Ebb Software on the development of “Scorn,” have announced “The Caretakers.” The first-person co-op investigative horror title draws inspiration from games like “Phasmaphobia,” with an added dash of humor from games like “REPO” and “Lethal Company.”
Set in an alternate 1962, the world is grappling with the “Inter-Net”—a revolutionary invention that has taken a dark turn. Prolonged exposure to faulty routers is mutating citizens into grotesque monstrosities. Players step into the boots of tech-support operatives for Inter-Kare, a corporate response unit tasked with cleaning up the digital fallout.
Equipped with tools inspired by the golden age of dial-up, players must infiltrate infested homes to gather data and subdue one of dozens of unique mutants. Successful missions yield currency to spend at the warehouse shop, where players can purchase new tools and gear upgrades, before heading off to their next case.
The core experience features a robust campaign with a dozen handcrafted cases, each centering on a unique mutant that requires specific tactics to subdue. As the developers plan to expand the roster with periodic post-launch updates, the mystery is set to grow well beyond the initial release. Between these high-stakes missions, players return to the Inter-Kare headquarters, where a meta-narrative unfolds. By gaining access to restricted facilities, secret tunnels, and hidden offices, operatives will gradually piece together the disturbing truth behind the Inter-Net mutations. For those who survive the story, a dedicated endless mode featuring randomized mutants will offer a path for players looking to test their tech-support skills against an infinite stream of anomalies.
“The Caretakers” is slated to launch on PC via Steam in December 2026.
