Veteran developer and founder of Athena Worlds, Jane Whittaker, has announced that work has begun on a new and exciting survival horror game IP, currently titled “Codename Xeno.” The game is expected to launch on PC first, followed by consoles, based on fan feedback and an evolving development plan.
After crash landing on planet XL-243, players will quickly find they are not alone, and the battle for survival begins. Combining deep character AI, crafting, resource management, and stealth mechanics, the game aims to be a landmark open-world experience of exploration, survival, high-stakes tension, and combat.
Helmed by Whittaker, one of the original developers and programmers on “Alien vs. Predator” for the Atari Jaguar, “Codename Xeno” has been gestating for more than 30 years.
“‘Alien Vs Predator’ for Atari defined my career,” said Whittaker. “It defined a genre, often regarded as the first true survival game, with over 100 awards and recently honoured with number 3 in the top 10 scariest games of all time awards.” Whittaker, who was one of two programmers on “Alien vs Predator,” added, “It is no exaggeration to say we changed the face of gaming, and 30 years later, I still receive messages from fans asking if I’ll return to that genre with a new franchise. I can now announce that Athena Worlds, thanks to support of a soon-to-be-named key publisher, will be returning to a genre that I hold very dear to my heart with a whole new survival horror IP, ‘Codename Xeno.'”
To help realise the project, Athena Worlds’ co-founder and producer of “Star Citizen,” “Squadron 42,” and “Forza Horizon,” Mike Meaden, will lead development with original character designs by Blizzard scholarship award winner Blaire Wathen.
“Codename Xeno” is in development for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.
