The Callisto Protocol New Trailer “The Truth of Black Iron” Out Now, Explores Last Week’s ARG Teaser – Here’s a Breakdown

the callisto protocol new trailer

In connection with last week’s cryptic ARG teaser, Striking Distance Studios has released a new trailer for The Callisto Protocol. Titled “The Truth of Black Iron,” the trailer showcases cinematics from the game’s story, exploring the Black Iron Prison and the secrets hidden in the much-discussed teaser.

Watch the trailer below:

Last week’s phone number-based teaser highlighted the words “ARCAS,” “Secrets,” “Lies,” and “Answers” with little context. The new trailer expands on those words without revealing too much, leaving excited fans even more curious than before.

“ARCAS” was previously theorized to be an organization in the game’s story. At 0:18, the trailer focuses on an interesting billboard:
the callisto protocol new trailer
Welcome to Arcas Station — Digging Out The Future!

And right afterwards:

the callisto protocol new trailer
We’re here for you! UJC — TERRAFORMING

These two shots solidify the game’s connection to the same interstellar mining trope previously seen in Dead Space and all across sci-fi. United Jupiter Company (UJC) is The Callisto Protocol’s equivalent of EarthGov from Dead Space: an monolithic, totalitarian entity that has no regard for the dangers of its ceaseless greed.

The trailer makes mention of the “terrifying secrets” lying beneath the Black Iron Prison on Callisto, which is where the game is set. Just like the discovery of the Markers in Dead Space, it seems that the UJC got more than it bargained for during its mining operations and encountered some kind of devastating interstellar horror.

The trailer leans heavily into the “dormant horror” theme. An abandoned human colony on Callisto is shown to have mutated into terrible monsters, all frozen in place until interrupted. Missing persons posters have stickers saying “LIES” stuck to them, hinting that UJC is covering up what happened to the previous colony.

the callisto protocol new trailer
SHOOT THE TENTACLES” is written in fresh blood on a wall, and one can reasonably assume that this is in reference to the mindless horrors shown throughout the trailer in gruesome detail.

the callisto protocol new trailer
“What happened to Arcas Station?” is a question most viewers will have. Arcas Station appears to be an abandoned mine, the entrance to which is shown at 0:36:

the callisto protocol new trailer
It’s reasonable to assume Arcas Station was part of the original ill-fated colony on Callisto. One can expect that more details about the colony and the game’s lore will be revealed closer to launch.

The Callisto Protocol crawls out for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC on December 2. Pre-orders are now open.

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