Studio behind Martha is Dead, the game too extreme for PlayStation, debuts gameplay from its psychological serial killer horror When Sirens Fall Silent

LKA, the studio behind 2016’s acclaimed The Town of Light and its controversial 2024 follow-up Martha is Dead, has shared first gameplay of its next project. When Sirens Fall Silent is a psychological serial killer horror and it’s coming to PC next year.

Set in the Italy of the early 90s, When Sirens Fall Silent tells the story of rookie police officer Mila, who becomes embroiled in a disturbing investigation into a brutal serial killer known as The Man. “As the case spirals deeper into violence and psychological horror, reality begins to fracture,” explains LKA in its announcement. “Players must investigate crime scenes, interrogate suspects, uncover hidden truths, and decide who the real monster truly is.”

It’s a story dealing with misogyny, trafficking, trauma, morality, redemption, and perception, according to LKA, and there’s also talk of environmental puzzles, a “multi-layered” branching narrative, and multiple endings as Mila’s investigation unfolds across locations based on real-world Italy. Its soundtrack, meanwhile, promises an eclectic blend of 90s Italian electronic music, Mediterranean folk, opera, and experimental sound design by Femina Ridens.

When Sirens Fall Silent was announced last December, but this week’s Day of the Devs showcase

brought our first proper look at its investigatory gameplay in action ahead of its 2027 release on PC. It certainly sounds intriguing though, especially given LKA’s fascinating – if somewhat uneven – previous work. Eurogamer called its debut title, The Town of Light, an “impactful exploration of mental health that presents a very different kind of horror” in our Recommended review back in 2016. We weren’t so impressed with 2024’s Martha is Dead, however, with contributor Vikki Blake calling it a “promising Italian horror [that] descends into incoherent chaos”, in her three star review.

Rather, Martha is Dead is perhaps best remembered for the controversy preceding its launch, which saw a squeamish Sony demanding ‘modifications’ to some of its playable sequences before agreeing to allow its release on PlayStation. Ultimately, the game arrived on Sony’s platform with some of its more extreme body horror sequences made non-interactive, while other references were removed entirely. It was released uncensored on Xbox and PC, however. A live-action Martha is Dead movie was announced in 2024.