Dark Zone Studios has locked in a release date for 4:AM. Their cinematic puzzle platformer will launch on PC on 10 December 2026.
The game is set in a near-future dystopia where society has been divided in two. On one side are those who control a mysterious substance known as the Yellow, and on the other are the people they use as test subjects to produce it. Aila is one of those test subjects, and she has escaped the facility in search of freedom. Fighting her way out is not an option, so players need to watch carefully, improvise and know when to run.
Central to the game is a system called N.O.D.E., which allows players to copy objects from the world around them and place them elsewhere. Furniture, debris, light sources and working tools can all be duplicated and used as cover, distractions or a way out. Elements such as electricity, water and fire also react to the materials and situations around them, meaning the same object can help, expose or work against the player depending on how it is used.
Puzzles do not have a single correct answer. Players can choose stealth, misdirection or riskier improvised solutions to get past each challenge. Enemies react to sound, movement and disturbances, so a careful plan can quickly fall apart and turn into a frantic escape. While staying hidden may be the safest option, sometimes running is the only way to survive.
Events also play out whether or not players step in, and the choices made along the way can affect who survives and how Aila’s story ends.
