Haex (pronounced "hex") is a new open-world co-op adventure from Scandinavian studio Dead Astronauts, promising a dynamic, player-shaped world where survival and shooting mechanics are complemented by a unique terraforming system. Players wield a cube-like Seed that transforms the environment, altering vegetation, topography, and narrative paths while spawning enemies.
Player-Shaped Worlds and Procedural Generation
Creative director Tobias Nyman explains that each campaign begins with a procedurally generated world, and each Seed contains further procedural data, causing the world to morph in real-time. "Your adventure and your world is player-shaped," Nyman says. "You change the world as you go. It becomes even more unique." This ensures every playthrough is distinct, encouraging replayability and keeping players—and their friends—on their toes.
Co-op Survival and Alien Mysteries
In Haex, players team up as research scientists investigating an anomaly in the rugged Scandinavian landscape. They encounter bizarre, shapeshifting objects and creatures, such as an ash-grey humanoid with spikes protruding from its face and a sentient wall that scrapes the clouds. A layer of alien mystery involves decoding an unknown language of arcane sigils. Nyman cites influences from sci-fi films like Annihilation and Arrival, as well as the weird fiction of Jeff VanderMeer, and even cosmic black metal music, which he says evokes a mix of dread and awe, seeking transcendence in nature.
From AAA to Indie: A Personal Vision
Nyman co-founded Dead Astronauts in 2024 after working at Ubisoft Massive on blockbusters like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws. Unlike those static, monumental worlds, Haex's environment is dynamic and built by a team of just 12 developers. This independence allowed Nyman to create a more personal game, drawing from his childhood split between Stockholm and northern Sweden. He recalls gazing at starry skies while his father explained Einstein's theory of relativity, and the region's profound silence—"almost screaming at me," he says. Haex aims to capture that duality of beauty and menace.
Release and Availability
Haex is scheduled for release on PC in 2027. The game blends familiar shooting and survival mechanics with its innovative terraforming system, promising a fluid and ever-changing experience that prioritizes player agency and discovery.
