The highly anticipated third‑person action‑horror title Code Violet arrived on PlayStation 5 this week, debuting as a $49.99 exclusive from indie studio TeamKill Media. The launch was announced with a surprise trailer that dropped just four days ago, immediately drawing comparisons to Capcom’s classic survival‑horror series Dino Crisis . Early pre‑order owners gained access at 11 p.m. EST on launch day, and the game is already being touted as January’s must‑play on the new console generation.
What the game is
Code Violet places players in the shoes of Violet, a seemingly ordinary operative thrust into a high‑stakes conspiracy that blends dinosaur‑infested environments with a complex time‑travel narrative. The story unfolds around a clandestine program called Aion , a surrogate technology that enables temporal jumps. As the plot progresses, betrayals surface, and Violet discovers that the very technology she is meant to protect has been weaponized, leading to shocking twists that keep players “glued to the screen,” according to the official PlayStation Store description.
The title bookends its experience with quotations from Leonardo da Vinci, a nod to the game’s thematic preoccupation with invention, ambition, and the perils of unchecked scientific progress. While the narrative ambition is clear, reviewers note that the execution is a mixed bag. One Italian review titled “Recensione Code Violet, questa sì che è una bella montagna di m *a!” (literally, “this is a big pile of …”) acknowledges the game’s “interesting ideas and multiple aspirations” — a sci‑fi horror blend that seeks to exploit PS5’s hardware — but also points out notable shortcomings in pacing and design.
Technical and gameplay highlights
Code Violet was built from the ground up to harness the PlayStation 5’s SSD speed, ray‑traced lighting, and haptic feedback. The developers leveraged these features to deliver immersive dinosaur encounters that feel both terrifying and visually impressive. The game’s third‑person perspective offers a fluid combat system that mixes gunplay with evasive maneuvers, encouraging a survival‑horror mindset akin to the original Dino Crisis titles.
Early gameplay footage demonstrates the use of the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers, which change resistance when pulling a bow or feeling the impact of a T‑rex’s swipe. The fast loading times afforded by the SSD mean that transitions between the present and past timelines occur seamlessly, reinforcing the time‑travel premise without breaking immersion.
Background and development
TeamKill Media, a relatively small studio based in Italy, first hinted at Code Violet in late 2022, describing it as a “spiritual successor” to Dino Crisis. The development cycle has been marked by a focus on narrative depth: the writers consulted with sci‑fi experts to construct a plausible framework for Aion’s technology, while the art direction drew inspiration from 1970s retro‑futurism.
The decision to release exclusively on PS5 aligns with Sony’s ongoing strategy to secure a pipeline of unique, system‑optimized experiences. By pricing the game at $49.99 — a mid‑tier point between indie titles and blockbuster releases — TeamKill Media appears to be targeting both hardcore horror fans and newcomers drawn by the dinosaur and time‑travel hooks.
Industry implications
Code Violet’s surprise launch illustrates a growing trend among indie developers to capitalize on high‑visibility windows with bold, genre‑blending concepts. While the game’s reception is still forming, its initial sales data suggest that a niche but passionate audience is eager for fresh survival‑horror experiences on next‑gen hardware.
If Code Violet can sustain its momentum, it may encourage other medium‑sized studios to pursue ambitious narrative structures that leverage the technical capabilities of modern consoles. Moreover, the game’s direct comparison to Dino Crisis could revive interest in classic survival‑horror franchises, potentially prompting larger publishers to revisit or reboot dormant IPs.
Critical reception so far
Early reviews are polarized. Push Square highlighted the game’s artistic ambition, praising the Leonardo da Vinci quotations as a “thoughtful framing device” that elevates the experience beyond pure action. However, the same outlet warned that the “inconsistent enemy AI and occasional texture pop‑ins” may detract from immersion for seasoned players.
Conversely, the more scathing Italian critique condemned the title for “overreaching” — the reviewer felt the game tried to be too many things at once, resulting in a “mountain of mess.” Yet even this negative assessment acknowledged the game’s technical achievements on PS5, noting the “stunning lighting and smooth frame rates” that validate the console’s premium price point.
What’s next for Code Violet
TeamKill Media has announced plans for post‑launch support, including downloadable content that expands the Aion storyline and introduces new dinosaur variants. A multiplayer mode is also rumored for a future update, aiming to transform the solitary survival experience into a cooperative venture.
In the short term, the focus will be on community feedback. The studio has opened a dedicated Discord channel where players can report bugs, suggest balance tweaks, and discuss the game’s intricate plot twists. This open‑line approach suggests TeamKill Media wants to refine Code Violet based on real‑world usage rather than relying solely on patch cycles.
Conclusion
Code Violet’s arrival on the PlayStation 5 marks a noteworthy entry in the niche of time‑travel‑infused survival horror. While its narrative ambition and PS5‑optimised presentation have earned praise, execution flaws have sparked debate among critics and gamers alike. As the title settles into the market, its performance will likely influence how indie studios balance creative storytelling with technical polish in the era of next‑gen consoles. Whether it becomes a cult classic or a cautionary tale for over‑ambitious design, Code Violet has undeniably added a fresh, dinosaur‑laden chapter to the evolving horror genre.
This topic is currently trending in Technology.
