New details of ILL: mutating enemies, brutal shots and oppressive atmosphere

The people in charge of the new first-person survival horror detail their influences, enemies, and playable approach.

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Since its reveal at the Summer Game Fest 2025, ILL has captured the attention of fans of the most visceral horror. Its first-person proposal, loaded with mutations, twisted bodies, and savage combat, promises an intense and disturbing experience. Now, its creators have shared new details through a special session on the official PlayStation blog.

Max Verehin and Oleg Vdovenko, founders of Team Clout studio, have delved into the elements that define the game: creatures inspired by classic horror movies, a decadent Eastern European setting, and a combat system that combines firearms, scarce resources, and physical dismemberment.

ILL: Grotesque Creatures, Brutal Combat, and Physical Horror in First Person

ILL is described as an action and horror game with a strong visual charge and oppressive atmosphere. According to its authors, the goal is to generate a feeling of physical discomfort, not just psychological tension. “We want it to seem like the horror is happening to you”, explains Verehin.

Among the most interesting details revealed:

• Inspiration from horror classics: the team has worked on productions such as V/H/S, It: Welcome to Derry, and Longlegs. For ILL, they cite Half-Life 2, Silent Hill, and Resident Evil as references.

• Visceral horror with body and soul: Director Max Verehin describes ILL as a game “of action and horror with visceral moments, exploration, and survival horror elements”. The focus seeks to combine physical and psychological horror with an intense combat system and realistic dismemberment.

• Inspiration and tone of the game: Set in a mysterious fortress in the style of Eastern Europe, the game conveys a sense of isolation and despair. The protagonist has a personal story deeply connected to the world, and the goal is for the player to feel that the horror “is happening to them physically”.

• Unique monsters and chilling animations: Designed by artists Oleg Vdovenko and Verehin himself, the enemies are inspired by classic horror movies from the 70s-90s and games like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Half-Life 2. The monsters mutate, react, and suffer, and their movements have been adjusted to cause real discomfort. They have even taken ideas from animations created by the team for horror shorts.

• Gameplay centered on survival and tactical action: Players will have to explore, manage limited resources, solve environmental puzzles, and upgrade weapons, including shotguns, rifles, melee weapons, and other “creative” objects yet to be revealed. There will also be combat against hordes, unique encounters, and bosses.

• Reactive world and immersive design: The environment will change dynamically according to the player’s actions, such as restoring electricity or unlocking areas. Everything is designed to make the world feel believable, tactile, and dangerous.

• Meaningful name: The title ILL refers to something cursed, sick, physical. According to the team, it is directly connected to the story and origins of the monsters.

• Focus on replayability and player conversation: They aim for players to experience unique experiences that they will discuss among themselves, with different events depending on how they play.

The studio has chosen the name ILL for its simplicity and symbolic charge. “We wanted a word that represented something sick, cursed… and that also looked good as a logo”, they comment.

Although there is no official release date, ILL will arrive on next-generation consoles and PC. Its proposal aims to reach both fans of the most extreme horror and those seeking an intense experience, with a good story and well-thought-out mechanics. Are you prepared to face horrors that not only look at you but also understand you?