Red Barrels is hiring for several positions:

• Senior Gameplay Animator
• Senior Level artist
• Dev QA
• Technical director (Animation)
• Programmer – Engine/Tools
• Programmer – Gameplay
• Programmer – UI
• Product Marketing Manager

Why would Red Barrels be right for your next adventure in the gaming industry?  At Red Barrels:

• We believe that all voices, talents, skills, and experiences make our studio stronger and enable us to make better games.
• All team members have access to benefits, including access to bonuses, a flexible work schedule, 6 weeks’ vacation (from hiring!)
• All team members work on the development of our games, from studio co-founders to administration, we all work together.
• We believe that a local studio can stay local while creating high-quality content that gamers love.

Interested? We hope so! Send your CV to [email protected] and indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line. Please also send links to a portfolio or demo (if applicable).

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for interviews will be contacted. If you require a work permit, your eligibility may depend on specific government requirements.

Early Access Out Now!

Murkoff’s experimental program is waiting for you! Reagents will be pushed to their limits in new environments, new Trials, several Challenges including variators to enhance the experience and difficulty, as well as the elusive seasonal Program X. You will be able to customize your character and cell and experience full character progression with a narrative introduction and a surprising conclusion for each Reagent released, and more to come gradually throughout Early Access. The Outlast Trials is a complex experience, Early Access means we will be able to reiterate the game with your feedback to help us refine and balance the game. More about the Trials…

SLEEP ROOM & DENIZENS

The Denizens populating the Sleep Room are now active. They live in Murkoff’s Sinyala facility and are there to help you with your therapy. You will meet:

• Noakes, the Engineer, will assist you with Experimental Special Operations Platforms, also known as Rigs.
• Barlow, the Pharmacist will help you enhance your physical and mental abilities with Prescriptions.
• Dorris, the Shadowy Dame, will provide you with Amps to strengthen you for the Trials.

There are other surprises in the Sleep Room for you to discover…

PROGRAMS

One of the biggest changes we introduced in Early Access is the concept of Murkoff Programs. Your rebirth is a journey, separated into clusters of Trials called Programs.

• A Program is a list of Trials and Mk-Challenges that you must complete to earn rewards and make progress in order to unlock the following Programs.
  • You will receive “First Completion Rewards” for completing each Trial of a given Program, which can only be earned once.
  • Replaying completed Trials will still provide experience and Murkoff Dollars based on your performance.
  • You will get a special bonus for completing a Trial with an A+ grade.

Programs is a platform that will be populated with new content and experiences over time.

• Access the Programs screen via the Terminal in the Sleep Room.
• Program 1 takes place in the Police Station.
  • Coyle is the Prime Asset of Program 1.
  • The Trial “Kill the Snitch” has been revisited an improved since Closed Beta.
• Program 2 takes place in the Fun Park.
  • Gooseberry is the Prime Asset of Program 2.
• Program 3 takes place in the Orphanage.
  • Gooseberry is the Prime Asset of Program 3.

Each Program introduces a new set of Trials and Mk-Challenges.

PROGRAM X

• Once you finish all Programs, you will be able to access Program X.
  • Program X is a seasonal stack of Trials and MK-Challenges. Our team will renew it occasionally.
  • Complete Program X to attempt and earn your freedom.

REAGENT RELEASE: JOIN THE REBORN

• Murkoff has prepared one final Trial for you to complete once you have completed all Programs.
  • Complete it to earn your freedom… But be advised, once a Reagent has earned their freedom, somebody new must take their place.

TRIALS & MK-CHALLENGES

• Trials are immersive story-driven therapies that take a certain time to complete.
• Mk-Challenges are shorter therapies occurring in modified or redesigned sections of existing maps.

TRIAL VARIATORS

• Trial Variators alter aspects of a Trial when you revisit them as part of a Program. Variators are also meant to enhance the difficulty of your Trial and is an alternative to the traditional difficulties we’ve seen in previous Outlast games (Easy, Normal, Nightmare, Insane).
  • The list of Variators will show when selecting a Trial in a Program.
  • You can also see the list of Variators when opening the Menu (ESC) while in a Trial.

ENEMIES, AI & DIFFICULTY

Improvements were made to enemy AI since Closed Beta.

• They are now more brutal, deadly, and relentless so make sure to use your stealth, items in the map, and your rig to evade them.
• Difficulty selection has been removed from the game and instead, the challenge increases as you make progress through the Programs, and Trial Variators increase test your limits.

RECORD & THERAPY LEVELS

• Look through your Records to view your Reagent Therapy Level
  • Therapy Levels are our progression system where you must complete Trials to acquire experience and increase your Reagent level.
  • The maximum level for Early Access is 40.
• Therapy Levels will provide rewards:
  • Vouchers – a currency used to purchase Rigs, Upgrades, Prescriptions, and Amps
  • Murkoff Dollars – a currency used to purchase character cosmetics and cell decorations.
  • Cosmetics – a random cosmetic will unlock and be available for purchase with Murkoff Dollars for each level-up.

LOADOUT

As you progress in your therapy you will earn currency to unlock Rigs, Prescriptions, and Amps to enhance your Reagent.

• Use the Loadout to organize and activate your ideal Regimen.
• You can also see the list of purchased Rig Upgrades, Amps, and Prescriptions from the Loadout screen.
• Try to synergize your loadout with your teammates, or equip the best loadout for each Trial.
• Setup your Loadout from the Terminal in the Sleep Room or by opening your menu (TAB)

RIGS

Rigs are experimental, reusable tools designed to help with your therapy.

• See Noakes in the Sleep Room to acquire new Rigs and upgrade them.
• Rigs have been reworked and rebalanced since Closed Beta.
  • They can now be upgraded with improvements and new features.
  • Rig upgrades must be purchased consecutively.

PRESCRIPTIONS

Prescriptions (Rx) enhance your physical and mental abilities.

• Purchase Rx from Barlow in the Sleep Room’s Pharmacy.
• Murkoff chemical therapy is terminal, meaning once purchased, an Rx is active forever.
• There are 2 tiers of Prescriptions.
  • Prescriptions can be purchased in any order, but Tier 2 only becomes available once all the Tier 1 Prescriptions have been purchased.

AMPS

Amps are powerful contraband that can have a big impact on your therapy.

• Purchase Amps from Dorris in the cafeteria, when she thinks you are ready.
• Amps become available later in the game.

CHARACTER COSMETICS

You are unique. Change your appearance to reflect who you really are.

• Visit the mirror in your private cell to access the appearance customization menu.
• Cosmetics will be unlocked randomly and available for purchase as you progress through the game.

PRIVATE CELL DECORATIONS

Make your place cozy. Change the look of your personal cell.

• Visit the bed in your private cell to access the customization menu.
• More decorations will be unlocked randomly and available to purchase as you progress through the game.

GRADE SYSTEM

The Post-Trial Grade calculation has been revamped.

• All your actions now influence your Grade.
• Murkoff’s report with your grade will be visible after each Trial.
• Grades influence the performance payout you get at the end of each Trial.

BADGES

Badges have been revamped since the Closed Beta.

• Badges are now long-term accomplishments that provide a reward once completed.
• A badge milestone can be redone multiple times (although the reward only occurs once).

EVIDENCE

There are illicit Murkoff documents scattered inside the Trials.

• Find them to uncover the secret history of the Sinyala Facility. Many new documents have been added.

INTERFACE/HUD

The Interface/HUD has been reworked to be simpler and more immersive.

• Interface elements now appear when needed, then auto-hide.
• We have added many interface/accessibility options to adjust the interface to your preference.
  • Health Display
  • Sanity Display
  • Noise Indicator Display
  • Darkness Indicator Display
  • Inventory Display
  • Assignment Display
  • Aim Dot Display
  • Group Display
  • Player Names
• We have also added a new PRESET feature, allowing players to quickly change their interface settings.
  • [STANDARD] Standard and immersive way to play.
  • [ACCESSIBLE] All accessibility options are active.
  • [IMMERSIVE] Most immersive and challenging way to play.
  • [CLASSIC COOP] Focus on teammates with permanent group display.
• Many menus have been introduced/revamped since the Closed Beta.
  • Terminal and all sub-menus
  • Denizens’ screens (Noakes, Barlow, Dorris)
  • Results screen (end of a Trial)
  • Options screen
  • Pause Menu

GROUP FINDER & GROUP

We have introduced a new Group Finder feature.

• Use this feature to find players before starting a Trial.
  • Select the party size (Duo, Trio, Quad).
• Access Group Settings from your Menu
  • Change “Group Privacy”: Friends Only, Private, Open To All
  • Toggle “Group Members Can Invite”
  • Toggle “Group Invitation Requests”

AUDIO

Experience the new music and audio effects, and voiceovers for all characters.

LANGUAGES SUPPORT

The Outlast Trials is now playable in 13 different languages.

• Voice overs only available in English and French.
• New subtitles options.

KNOWN ISSUES

• When reviving a player whose located on the police station rails, the player whose helping his downed teammate will be moved sideways
  • This is only a visual bug and should not affect reviving a downed teammate
• In certain seeds of Police Station one of the posters in the basement cannot be grabbed, as well as some posters in the seeds of the Feed the Children Trials
  • There are always more posters available than required, we are investigating this issue
• Some subtitles might be cut off if they are too long
• Some French voice lines may not match their subtitles
• Some UI and its interactions may be offset on some ultrawide resolutions
• On rare occasions the Pusher is unable to grab the player in the Mansion Tutorial level therefore stalling the player’s progress in that level
  • Players must restart the Tutorial, we are investigating the issue

FIXED ISSUES

• Fixed NPCs who idle in front of hidespots instead of taking you out.

To report bugs please join our Discord https://discord.gg/outlastofficial and follow the instructions on creating a ModMail ticket to chat with a support agent. Note it is an 18+ server considering our game’s mature content.

If you wish to share your feedback about The Outlast Trials Early Access, you can do so by completing our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OutlastTrialsEarlyAccess

The Red Barrels Dev Team

Let The Experiments Begin: Reagents can now access the cooperative survival horror experience from today

Stepping into Murkoff’s Sinyala Facility during Early Access, players will experience mind-numbing terror, whether surviving alongside friends or daring to go alone. Early Access includes all the main features of a classic Outlast game and will introduce a whole new program structure. Players will be pushed to their limits in new environments, new trials, several challenges and variators, a seasonal program, character and cell customization, full character progression with a narrative introduction and a surprising conclusion for each Reagent released, and more, gradually throughout the Early Access.

“We’re eager to see and hear how Reagents (players) perform in Murkoff’s experimental program during The Outlast Trials Early Access,” said Philippe Morin, Co-Founder of Red Barrels. “Feedback from players throughout Early Access is key to us delivering a more refined and balanced game. The Outlast Trials is our most challenging production and we’ll continue developing the game until we feel the game delivers our initial vision.”

The Outlast Trials, is a brand new take on the acclaimed Outlast survival horror series, set in the same terrifying universe as the previous titles, only this time you can choose to play on your own or with friends in a team of up to four people.

Set in the height of the Cold War era, players take on the role of test subjects abducted by the shadowy Murkoff Corporation. Imprisoned in a secret Murkoff facility, players will be thrust into a series of physical and mental ordeals, tormented by iconic characters, and challenged alone or in teams to survive with their sanity intact.

Join the experiments today on Steam or the Epic Store. 

Keep in touch with Red Barrels to provide The Outlast Trials Early Access feedback via socials:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.redbarrels/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theredbarrels
• Discord: https://discord.com/invite/outlastofficial 
• Twitch: https://twitch.tv/theredbarrels/  
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/redbarrelsgames   
• Website: https://redbarrelsgames.com/  
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/RedBarrels & https://www.facebook.com/Outlastthegame/ 

Red Barrels is looking for an Animator Technical  Director who is focused on innovation, and team collaboration and is action-oriented. We are looking for someone who is interested in creating and supporting efficient pipelines, an individual who can make sure that things keep moving. This role would see you working closely with our animation, programming, and character team to bring The Outlast Trials to life. 

Description of the role: 

• Collaborate with other core team members to develop the overall vision and determine technical feasibility.
• Review game design concepts and identify and analyze risks (engine, memory, frame rate, etc.).
• Work closely with programmers to assess existing animation and rigging tools, occasionally design custom ones to improve pipelines.
• Support Animators, Character Artists, and Game Designers with their technical needs. Provide information and constructively explain the root causes of risks, blockers, etc.
• Train team members on any new processes regarding tools and techniques, and provide general support as needed. 
• Resolve complex issues and make technical validations
• Work with outside contractors to ensure proper data delivery and communicate the technical needs of the production. 
• Anticipate technological advancements and stay up to date on market and industry trends.
• Identify problems and opportunities, and brainstorm to identify interesting solutions.

Profile:

• At least 5 and more years of game production experience as an animator, technical animator or an animation fluent programmer. 
• Preferably one or more completed development cycles as part of an animation team.
• A thorough understanding of production pipelines, capacities, and technical constraints related to different game engines.
• Extensive knowledge of Unreal Engine and 3D software (e.g. 3DS Max, Maya)
• An understanding of scripting languages (e.g. C++, Python, Melscript) is an asset. 
• Familiarity with bug tracking software (e.g. Jira) and version management systems (e.g. Perforce)
• We need the candidate to be comfortable with using horror elements and all that the genre entails (nudity, gore, “mature” visual research material).
• Ability to communicate in both French and English (spoken and written).
• You are proactive and can excel while working autonomously.
• Strong interpersonal skills and excited about creative collaboration, both within your team and as part of the larger RB Team
• You are looking for an environment where you can have a wide range of responsibilities and you are interested in approaching things differently.

At Red Barrels all team members share in the advantages, including a highly competitive salary, access to bonuses (project-based and yearly profitability), flexible time management and hybrid working arrangements, group insurance, and wellness account, group RRSP, and 6 weeks’ vacation (from hiring!). Our studio is located in Montreal.

Interesting in being a part of the RB Team? Please send your resume and portfolio information to [email protected] and indicate “TECHNICAL ANIMATION DIRECTOR” in the subject line. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. 

Red Barrels believe all voices, identities, skills, and experiences make our studio stronger and make better games. If you require a work permit, your eligibility may depend on specific government requirements.

To learn more about the creation of the Outlast Universe, please check out this article written by Philippe Morin, one of our co-founders. 

You can watch our most recent game trailer here.

Remake Yourself in The Outlast Trials – Closed Beta Date Revealed During Gamescom Opening Night Live

Today we presented the new gameplay trailer for The Outlast Trials during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2022. This whole new take on the Outlast survival horror experience enters a Closed Beta playtest over Halloween weekend. Subjects are required to present themselves to the Murkoff Corporation for the Closed Beta trials between October 28th to November 1st

Watch the trailer here.

Set in the height of the Cold War era, players take on the role of test subjects abducted by the shadowy Murkoff Corporation. Imprisoned in a secret Murkoff facility, players will be thrust into a series of physical and mental ordeals, tormented by iconic characters, and challenged alone or in teams to survive with their sanity intact.

 “Last year, we debuted the first gameplay trailer for The Outlast Trials at Opening Night Live, and were overwhelmed by the positive reception,” said David Chateauneuf, Red Barrels co-founder, and designer. “So it’s fantastic to be back again this year, and be able to provide a date for when test subjects… sorry, I mean fans, can enter the Closed Beta trials.”

The Red Barrels development team is hard at work to deliver an all-new experience with The Outlast Trials, but with the Outlast flavor fans know and love. Stay tuned for more news and updates on how to sign up for and what to expect from the Closed Beta.

You can keep in touch with Red Barrels via our socials: 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.redbarrels/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theredbarrels

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/outlastofficial

Twitch: https://twitch.tv/theredbarrels/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/redbarrelsgames

Website: https://redbarrelsgames.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/RedBarrels & https://www.facebook.com/Outlastthegame/