Skip to main content

Abandoned’s mysterious PS5 app is live and players are baffled

A long-delayed app for the upcoming PS5 exclusive Abandoned is now live. The mysterious “real time experience” app only contains a short teaser trailer for the game, which has left curious fans even more confused.

Abandoned has a complicated history. The game was first announced through a PlayStation blog post, showing off the game’s environments. Following the post, some fans began spinning a conspiracy theory that the project was actually a new game from Hideo Kojima. That morphed into an unfounded, but widespread rumor that Abandoned was actually a Silent Hill revival. While developer Blue Box Game Studios attempted to distance itself from those rumors, gamers kept drawing connections and convincing themselves that the indie was a publicity stunt.

Recommended Videos

During the height of the speculation, Blue Box announced that it would reveal more about the game through a dedicated PS5 app. It was heavily delayed, fueling more rumors, but was scheduled to launch earlier this week. Last-minute bugs pushed the app’s launch to today. PS5 owners can now download the app and enter it, though it requires a 5GB update to download.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The Abandoned thing is live and yeah this seems about right https://t.co/EJxPuecLKJ

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) August 13, 2021

The actual content of the app makes matters even more confusing. Upon opening it, users will see a list of boxes indicating future trailers and demos that will be housed within the app. However, the only one that’s currently available is an introductory teaser video. It features a roughly two-second teaser shot of somewhat walking on a wooden floor (which the developer had already shared on Twitter), followed by some text noting that a demo and trailer are coming soon.

For fans who were hoping the app would finally put months of speculation to bed, one way or another, the app is just another bizarre piece of the saga. It gives no new details about the project or really even shows what it actually looks like. There’s also the fact that the update to see the trailer takes upwards of 10 minutes to download, despite the fact that the teaser is only around 30 seconds long.

The app will, presumably, shed some more light on the game eventually. At the moment, however, players are expressing confusion and frustration across social media. All signs point towards Abandoned having no connection to Silent Hill, though there are more legitimate revival rumors for the franchise.

Giovanni Colantonio
As Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio oversees all things video games at Digital Trends. As a veteran…
The best Metroidvanias on PS5
A hero looks up in Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist.

The Metroidvania genre takes cues from the two namesakes for which it is called: Matroid and Castlevania. Specifically, one of the best SNES games, Super Metroid, and one of the best PS1 games, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It describes a kind of game where the player explores an open map with multiple paths and areas locked off until they acquire some item or power with which to unlock and further explore. That formula has become so popular that dozens of current and upcoming video games have iterated on that style with new mechanics, perspectives, art styles, and more. Some of the best PS5 games are Metroidvanias, and the platform is home to the best the genre has to offer. If you're searching for your next Metroidvania to get lost in, here are the best ones you can play right now.

Animal Well

Read more
The best Xbox Game Pass game of 2024 is coming to PS5
dungeons of hinterberg preview gdc 2024 combat

Dungeons of Hinterberg, the cel-shaded action RPG from Curve Games and Microbird, is making its way to the PlayStation 5. You can play it for yourself on March 13. The price hasn't been confirmed, but it goes for $30 on both Xbox and Steam, so it'll likely be the same price when it drops on PlayStation.

The game will come with all existing content, including the New Game Plus mode. If you've never played Dungeons of Hinterberg before, that means more than 25 different dungeons to explore across four different biomes, each set in a different, picturesque part of the Alps. But wait, there's more: the PlayStation 5 version will get a new, secret bonus episode.

Read more
How to get Spider-Man 2 PS5 skin in Marvel Rivals
Spider-Man 2 skin in Marvel Rivals cover

Marvel Rivals has introduced skins influenced by Marvel films and classic comics, capturing the essence of iconic Marvel characters. Players have the opportunity to choose their favorite cosmetic outfit for their heroes, such as the shiny Iron Spider costume from Spider-Man: No Way Home or Wolverine's yellow and blue outfit from Deadpool & Wolverine.

Each skin not only looks the part but also feels like you've stepped onto the set of a movie or into the pages of a comic, showcasing the game's dedication to realism. You may add some iconic looks to your gameplay with these skins, which are more than just cosmetic. They pay homage to Marvel's rich past and can be purchased in the in-game store.

Read more