DERELIKT Retro FPS: PS1 Horror, Release Date, Demo, and Combat Guide

DERELIKT is a narrative retro FPS inspired by PS1 sci-fi horror. Check its release date, demo, combat loop, visual toggles, and PC launch details.

DERELIKT Retro FPS: A PS1-Style Horror Shooter With Modern Options

DERELIKT retro FPS drops you into a remote asteroid research outpost where the corridors are cramped, ammo is scarce, and the walls seem to be watching back. That mix of old-school first-person combat and Lovecraftian sci-fi horror is the hook. If you grew up on PlayStation-era shooters, DERELIKT retro FPS is less a simple nostalgia trip than a deliberate reconstruction of that tense, low-visibility style—with modern visual toggles for players who want a cleaner picture.

Shacknews’ September 26, 2026 early-build preview describes the game as a narrative retro FPS from solo developer Visuwyg, and frames it as Dead Space and System Shock filtered through a PS1 lens. The game’s Steam community page, captured November 10, 2026, summarizes it as a narrative retro FPS aimed at players who enjoy claustrophobic PS1-era sci-fi horror. That framing sets expectations: scavenged resources, environmental storytelling, and deliberate exploration matter as much as shooting.

Release Date, Demo, and PC Platforms

The launch details below are dated snapshots from official sources, not live storefront status.

Snapshot itemWhat the source recordedDate, source, and scope
Release statusListed as not yet available on Steam; planned release date November 13, 2026As of November 10, 2026 — official DERELIKT Steam page
Demo listing“Demo Available”As of November 10, 2026 — official DERELIKT Steam page
Demo contentFirst public demo; three chapters presented in non-sequential orderOctober 8, 2026 — Steam community announcement, captured November 10, 2026
PC launch storesSteam, GOG, and Epic on November 13, 2026October 21, 2026 — Steam community announcement, captured November 10, 2026
Console launchConfirmed, but the date was not revealed in that announcementOctober 21, 2026 — Steam community announcement, captured November 10, 2026
LanguagesEnglish interface, full audio, and subtitlesAs of November 10, 2026 — official DERELIKT Steam page
System requirementsWindows 10 minimum, Windows 11 recommended; hardware fields read “Toaster Spec” and “1337 Spec”As of November 10, 2026 — official DERELIKT Steam page

As of November 10, 2026, the Steam page listed DERELIKT as not yet available, with a planned release date of November 13, 2026. The developer’s October 21, 2026 Steam community announcement named Steam, GOG, and Epic as PC launch storefronts and said the console date remained unannounced. If you are tracking DERELIKT retro FPS, those are the confirmed channels and the confirmed date from that snapshot.

The demo is the easiest way to test the game before the planned release. As of November 10, 2026, the Steam page displayed “Demo Available.” The October 8, 2026 community post explains that the first public demo offers three chapters from the full story in non-sequential order. Returning playtesters would also see some feedback implemented, though the demo’s scope did not change.

The system requirements table is less useful for buying decisions. As of November 10, 2026, it listed Windows 10 as minimum and Windows 11 as recommended, but the processor, graphics, and sound entries used placeholder labels. Treat those as placeholders, not hardware guidance.

Combat Loop in DERELIKT Retro FPS: Scarcity and Route Planning

In Shacknews’ early-build preview, the game opens with a supply delivery to Von Neumann Outpost, a research station on an asteroid orbiting Saturn. The lead scientist has locked himself away, staff members mention hearing songs and voices, and markings around the base suggest that a strange rock was brought inside. The player is pulled into security work to find out why the researchers went quiet.

The preview stresses that you cannot simply grab a gun. You talk to scientists, work out where to go, crawl through vents, and find written clearance before you can carry a weapon. Even then, ammunition is not handed over. That two-step gating—permission, then bullets—sets the tone for a survival-minded shooter rather than a power fantasy.

Once combat begins, the enemy set is varied: bugs emerging from vents, rogue security robots, and mutated humans. The preview build gave the player a pistol, assault rifle, and shotgun. Its combat advice was practical rather than flashy: step in and out of cover against ranged threats, keep moving to kite melee bugs, and protect limited med kits scavenged from the station.

Navigation adds pressure. The preview notes that it is easy to get lost, that players retrace steps, and that C4 charges are limited. A lack of HUD markers and glowing trails means corridors, doors, and landmarks matter. The DERELIKT retro FPS combat loop is therefore partly a routing problem: know your exit, avoid fights you cannot afford, and spend destructive tools only when a path is confirmed.

Later preview material introduces glyph fragments and a Lovecraftian progression hook. A scientist warns against looking at one; the player can look anyway, triggering swirling colors and vocalizations, then embed and upgrade glyphs using Insight. It is a strange counterweight to the gunplay, not a replacement for it.

PS1 Horror Aesthetics You Can Tune

A November 6, 2026 Steam community post from creator and art director Phil explains how seriously DERELIKT treats its PS1 look. The developer emulated affine texture warping, distance-based dynamic subdivision, and the characteristic “pop” when polygons split. Static lighting was hand-painted rather than handled by a modern automated pipeline.

The intent is not mockery of old technology. The post argues that skilled PS1 artists worked within severe limits, and that the console could push a surprising number of triangles, especially on segmented walls. DERELIKT aims for a high-end version of that look: warped textures and dithering where appropriate, but not a caricature.

Players who find the effect too abrasive are not stuck. The same post says DERELIKT lets you switch between crunchy low-resolution and clean high-resolution modes, and turn texture warping and dithering off. The stated goal is for the game to feel like a lost 1999 title recovered and ported to modern platforms in 2026.

Practical Tips for DERELIKT Retro FPS

These tips come from the mechanics described in the Shacknews preview and the developer’s visual notes. They are preview-based, not a final balance guide for the full release.

  • Try the demo first. As of November 10, 2026, the Steam page listed a demo, and the October 8, 2026 announcement said it covers three chapters in non-sequential order.
  • Explore before you fight. Weapon access and ammunition are separate steps in the preview; written clearance does not fill your pockets.
  • Use cover for robots, movement for bugs. Standing still against ranged enemies and letting skittering bugs surround you are fast ways to burn med kits.
  • Treat med kits like a budget. Avoid chip damage, disengage when a room turns bad, and do not heal just because you are nervous.
  • Build a mental map. Without HUD trails, you need landmarks and backtracking routes. Retracing a safe path is cheaper than guessing with C4.
  • Spend C4 on confirmed routes. The preview describes limited charges, so blast a path only after you know it leads somewhere useful.
  • Test visual toggles early. If texture warping or dithering distracts you, switch to high-resolution mode or disable those effects.

FAQ

When does DERELIKT retro FPS release?
As of November 10, 2026, the official Steam page listed a planned release date of November 13, 2026, and marked the game as not yet available. The developer’s October 21, 2026 announcement named Steam, GOG, and Epic as PC launch stores; the console date was not revealed in that announcement.

Is there a demo?
Yes. As of November 10, 2026, the Steam page displayed “Demo Available,” and the October 8, 2026 community announcement said the first public demo includes three chapters presented out of order.

What makes DERELIKT retro FPS different from a modern shooter?
The preview points to scarce ammo, limited med kits, written weapon clearance, deliberate backtracking, limited C4, and no HUD markers or glowing trails. The PS1-style visuals reinforce that claustrophobic, low-visibility mood.

Can I turn off the PS1 visual effects?
Yes. A November 6, 2026 developer post says players can choose low-resolution or high-resolution presentation and disable texture warping and dithering.