Quantic Dream Unveils Under The Waves Underwater Adventure at Gamescom 2022

Explore the depths of the sea and human suffering.

Parallel Studio and Quantic Dream have announced, during the Gamescom Opening Night LIVE conference, Under The Wavesa single-player narrative adventure set in the deep, coming to PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in 2023, with the world premiere of the gameplay trailer.

Players will be able dive deep into the North Sea for an action-packed, poetic underwater adventure, which explores the devouring power of pain. In this story, which takes place in a techno-futuristic version of the 1970s, players will follow Stan, a professional diver who works for an oil company facing the solitude of the deep sea, where he will begin to experience a series of strange events, far away, under the waves.

“This is the most personal and intense work we’ve done as a studio,” said Ronan Coiffec, CEO and Game Director at Parallel Studio. “We are an indie team made up of a dozen members and everything we have wanted to express we have conveyed in this game, with all our passion. From the art to the script, from the sound design to the technology, we’ve all had the chance to make our mark on Under The Waves. We hope you can enjoy the game as much as we have enjoyed creating it!”

To support the publication of this underwater story, Quantic Dream has provided Parallel Studio with access to various creative talents and tools such as motion capture, voice recording, animation, quality control, localization and many others. This collaboration represents the first time that Quantic Dream has offered its support to another French studio, both of which are based in Paris.

“In 2021, when we announced our collaboration with Parallel Studio, we were already looking forward to players discovering their work,” said Guillaume de Fondaumière, co-CEO of Quantic Dream. “Today, we are delighted to introduce the world to Under The Waves, a unique experience created by a very passionate indie team here in Paris. We have had the opportunity to work side by side, with the aim of providing him with all the necessary means to create a game that has exceeded his expectations, giving rise to his most ambitious project to date. We are also very proud to support the Surfrider Foundation Europe, whose message and actions are at the heart of what Under The Waves is all about.”

Like a love letter to the ocean, Under The Waves focuses on the importance of ocean conservation, showcasing vibrant marine life and conveying subtle messages throughout the gaming experience. Parallel Studio and Quantic Dream are proud to announce their collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation Europe, a non-profit association responsible for the protection and enhancement of lakes, rivers, oceans, waves and coastlines. Quantic Dream has committed to financially support the organization through a donation, and will carry out various activities to support the cause during and after the campaign. Through in-game activations, cross-talk, and internal activities, both studios aim to amplify Surfrider’s green message and ocean protection actions.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with Quantic Dream on the launch of Under The Waves,” said Pénélope Giroud, Marketing and Communication Manager, Surfrider Foundation Europe. “For 30 years, the Surfrider Foundation Europe has worked to protect the oceans, raising public awareness of all the threats that lie in wait for them. The game provides us with a great opportunity to educate players about its fragility, especially the impact of offshore drilling, but also about other issues. We are happy to support the creators of the game in finding the right and most impactful messages, ensuring that they fit perfectly with the narrative. We are looking forward to its release!”

Under The Waves will immerse players in beautiful environments, where exploration of caves, shipwrecks and marine life will be key to guiding Stan through a series of unpredictable events, into an ever deeper abyss. Following mysterious manifestations of his memories, Stan will have a hard time choosing whether to be lost forever in the depths or rise to the surface.