“Going Places One Should Avoid”: First Dev Diary for The Occultist as Refined Demo Returns for Steam Next Fest
A closer look at Alan Rebels and Godstone
February 20, 2026
Hamburg, Germany – February 20, 2026 – Daedalic Entertainment and developer DALOAR announce that The Occultist enters Steam Next Fest with a newly polished demo, reflecting continued development and optimisation since its initial release earlier this year. At the same time, the first dev diary is now available for fans to watch.
In The Occultist, players step into the role of Alan Rebels, a paranormal investigator whose job is to “bring people to the other side”—helping restless souls and unresolved spirits move on. That calling leads him to Godstone, a seemingly deserted island town shaped by violence, secrecy, and unfinished business.
The updated demo presents the game’s opening chapter. As Alan searches for his missing father, players uncover traces of occult practices, disturbing events, and fragments of a past that refuse to stay buried. Using Alan’s pendulum, they reveal hidden symbols, blood-stained clues, and objects tied to both the town’s history and his father’s actions.
Alongside the demo, a new developer video offers insight into Alan Rebels as a character and explains how Godstone was designed to feel observant, hostile, and deeply unsettling. What begins as careful investigation gradually escalates into psychological horror, where silence, stillness, and the fear of being watched become as threatening as any supernatural entity.
Watch the Dev Diary on Youtube
Blending first-person exploration with slow-burning psycho-horror, The Occultist focuses on atmosphere, vulnerability, and the disturbing weight of helping the dead find peace—often at the cost of the living.
The demo is currently available in English, Spanish (Spain), French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Italian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish (Latin America), Traditional Chinese and Turkish.
The full game is set to launch in Q2 2026.
The Occultist - Press Assets - incl. trailer download:
Download trailer and materials
PlayStation 5:
https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10012077
Xbox X|S:
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/the-occultist/9n5z615f5f86
Steam Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2092840/The_Occultist/
Press inquiries, interview requests, and review codes: bernd.berheide@daedalic.de
About DALOAR
DALOAR (formerly Pentakill Studios) is a video game company founded in 2021, built upon years of experience in computer graphics and development. The company's origins trace back to the creation of iVisual, dedicated to advancing training in 3D technologies and video games.
About Daedalic Entertainment
Daedalic Entertainment is a renowned publisher that has supported indie developers for over 18 years, bringing their titles to every major gaming platform. The lineup of games includes a diverse variety of unique titles, focusing on four distinct areas: storytelling, strategy, co-op games, and wholesome games. With an international team of around 45 employees, Daedalic is currently working with various development studios to create a new lineup of innovative games across consoles and PCs to market. Recent hits include Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown, New Cycle, Barotrauma, Unrailed!, Yield! Fall of Rome, Into the Emberlands, Deponia, Shadow Tactics, Inkulinati, Hidden Deep, Fling to the Finish!, and more.Please look out for upcoming games like The Occultist, Woodo, Bloodgrounds, Barotrauma Home & Harbor Expansion, and many more. Since April 2022, Daedalic Entertainment has been a subsidiary of the French publishing house, Nacon.
For more, please visit: https://press.daedalic.com.
Follow us on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/daedalic.