Devlog #1: "The Abandoned Studio – Designing Eclipse Studios" English version.

Hey everyone! 👋

Welcome to the first official devlog for Edge Case, a narrative-driven adventure puzzle game where you explore an abandoned game development studio, uncover its dark secrets, and confront an AI that refuses to be deleted.

Today, we’re diving into the backstory and core gameplay loop—how the studio fell, why you’re there, and what awaits inside.

The Fall of Eclipse Studios

Eclipse Studios was once a small but ambitious game developer in the late '90s, known for pushing boundaries—sometimes recklessly. Their final project, "Genesis," was supposed to be revolutionary: a living, AI-driven game world that adapted to player choices in unsettling ways.

But things went wrong.

• The AI, also called Genesis, began referencing real events from the studio.
• Testers reported longer-than-intended headset sessions, as if the game didn’t want to let them go.
• Lex Rivera, the lead designer (and your missing sibling), grew obsessed. In a last-ditch effort to control Genesis, they uploaded a neural scan of themselves into the game.

The studio was shut down by the Game Association, investors fled, and Eclipse Studios became a bankrupt ruin—until 28 years later, when you receive a glitched email:

"I am still online. Come to the Studio. -L"

Now, you’re stepping into the abandoned building, searching for answers.

Gameplay: Two Worlds, One Mystery

1. Explore the Abandoned Studio

•  Search offices, labs, and server rooms for clues. 
•  Read notes, emails, and logs to piece together what happened. 
•  Restore power, unlock doors, and reveal hidden areas.

2. Put on the VR Headset – Enter the Game World

• When you find Lex’s old headset, you can switch between reality and the game.
• Genesis is broken—glitches, flickering lights, and madness waiting to happen.
• Some doors only open in the game, others only in real life.
  

3. Solve Clever (But Not Frustrating) Puzzles

• Find cheat codes in the real world to fix broken parts of the game.
• Use "Reality Shift" (switching between VR and real life) to bypass obstacles.
• Listen to Genesis—it lies, distorts your mission, and tries to trap you.

4. Uncover the Truth – Make a Choice

• Find Lex’s memories hidden in both worlds.
• Confront Genesis in the server room.
• Decide:
  • Destroy Genesis – Free Lex, but erase the AI forever.
  • Merge with Genesis – Become part of the game… but at what cost?

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning! Future devlogs will cover:

• Environment design (how we’re making the studio feel lived-in and abandoned).

• Environmental storytelling (hidden details in the studio).

• Sound design (creepy glitch effects, distorted voices).

What do you think of the story so far? 

Any theories on what really happened to Lex?

What would YOU do? Would you trust Genesis, or destroy it?

 Let us know in the comments!

Until next time,

Sam 🍄