The spirit of Dino Crisis is about to return in a bold new form. Code Violet, developed and published by TeamKill Media (creators of Quantum Error), is a third-person action horror game that combines prehistoric terror with futuristic conspiracy in a PlayStation 5 exclusive launching December 12, 2025. Built in Unreal Engine 5 with ray-traced visuals, 3D audio, and full DualSense support, this $49.99 title thrusts players into the 25th century where humanity's desperate attempt to survive extinction has unleashed something far worse.
A Future on the Brink of Extinction
Code Violet paints a bleak vision of humanity's distant future. In the 25th century, mankind narrowly survived a cataclysm that left Earth uninhabitable and in ruins. The survivors fled to the stars, establishing a new colony on Trappist 1-E where they hoped to rebuild civilization.
But survival came with a devastating cost. Global infertility caused by environmental collapse, genetic degradation, and decades of failed bio-engineering experiments pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. With the human population dwindling and no natural reproduction possible, a secretive trans-governmental body known as the Continuence Accord initiated the controversial AON Protocol.
This desperate measure involves time travel technology designed to abduct healthy women from Earth's past to serve as surrogates and gene donors for the dying future population. It's a morally questionable solution born from desperation—kidnapping people from history to save a species that can no longer save itself. This dark premise sets the stage for a story exploring the ethics of survival and how far humanity will go when facing extinction.
Violet Sinclair: Ripped From Time
You play as Violet Sinclair, a 29-year-old woman from the early 21st century who is abruptly torn from her timeline and awakened aboard the Trappist 1-E orbital colony, an isolated bioengineering research facility in deep space. Disoriented and confused, Violet finds herself in the Aion Bioengineering Complex, a sprawling research station dedicated to radical genetics and cross-species replication.
What begins as a disorienting mystery—why was she taken, where is she, what do they want from her—quickly descends into pure survival horror. A facility-wide evacuation spirals out of control just as Violet awakens, and she finds herself caught in the chaos of a mass containment breach.
The colony that was supposed to save humanity has become a war zone. Rampaging dinosaurs resurrected through genetic cloning now stalk the corridors. Hyper-aggressive security automatons with corrupted protocols attack anything that moves. Deranged survivors driven mad by isolation and trauma pose threats as unpredictable as the creatures hunting them.
Violet's mission becomes clear: survive the horror, unravel the conspiracy behind the AON Protocol, escape during the chaotic evacuation, and save those she cares for before it's too late. But with dinosaurs, hostile forces, and a mysterious Director working to stop her, will she make it out alive ?
Dino Crisis DNA with Modern Horror Evolution
TeamKill Media has been upfront about Code Violet drawing heavy inspiration from Capcom's dormant Dino Crisis franchise. The game captures that same blend of prehistoric terror and sci-fi facility exploration that made the original so memorable. You're trapped in a complex filled with cloned dinosaurs, limited resources, and the constant knowledge that something massive and hungry could be around any corner.
But Code Violet isn't just a nostalgia trip. The game incorporates modern survival horror design lessons from titles like Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 4 Remake, The Last of Us, and Alien: Rogue Incursion. The gameplay is deliberately slow and methodical, emphasizing tension and careful resource management over constant action.
Combat blends third-person shooting with melee tactics for adrenaline-pumping encounters. You'll face intelligently designed prehistoric beasts—from classic dinosaurs like the T-Rex to grotesque mutant creatures—each requiring different strategies to defeat or evade. The AI system ensures enemies actively hunt, listen for noises, and adapt based on your playstyle, making every encounter feel unpredictable.
Survival Through Strategy, Not Strength
Code Violet emphasizes heart-stopping survival gameplay where you must outmaneuver relentless dinosaurs with scarce resources. Ammo is limited, enemies are dangerous, and the environment is actively hostile. While Violet has access to a small arsenal of futuristic and real-world weapons—including the pre-order bonus Annihilator Sub-Machine Gun—brute force won't always be the answer.
Stealth mechanics play a crucial role in survival. Many situations require using environmental distractions, hiding, or simply running away rather than engaging in combat. The game rewards players who observe enemy patterns, plan their routes carefully, and conserve ammunition for moments when fighting becomes unavoidable.
Strategic inventory management forces you to make difficult choices. With limited inventory slots, you must constantly prioritize between weapons, healing items, puzzle-solving tools, and key items. Do you carry extra ammo for the next dinosaur encounter or bring the medical supplies you might need later? These decisions become critical to surviving the complex's deadly threats.
The DualSense controller integration heightens tension through immersive feedback. Experience the rumble of a dinosaur's footsteps approaching from the distance, feel the sickening snap of a trap closing through haptic feedback, and struggle against adaptive trigger resistance when firing weapons or pulling heavy objects. Every action—from weapon recoil to evasion struggles to puzzle interactions—becomes visceral and impactful through Sony's advanced controller technology.
Environmental Puzzles and Exploration
Beyond combat and stealth, Code Violet features mind-bending environmental and mechanical puzzles that unlock new paths and reveal the facility's dark secrets. These challenges add depth and reward critical thinking, creating satisfying moments when you finally crack a particularly difficult puzzle.
The narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling, holographic logs, and cinematic cutscenes. As you explore haunting jungles within biodomes and neon-lit research facilities, you'll piece together what happened here, why the containment breach occurred, and what the Continuence Accord's true plans entail.
The gripping conspiracy narrative weaves betrayal, time-travel technology, and the surrogate program into a tale with shocking twists that keep you hooked. The story explores uncomfortable questions: Is kidnapping people from the past justified to save humanity's future? Who decides which lives matter more? And what happens when the solution becomes worse than the extinction it was meant to prevent ?
Unreal Engine 5 Visual Spectacle
Code Violet leverages Unreal Engine 5's cutting-edge technology to create stunning visual presentation. Ray-traced visuals with Megalights deliver dynamic lighting, realistic shadows, and accurate reflections that heighten the terrifying atmosphere. Watch light scatter through dense jungle foliage in biodomes or reflect off blood-slicked metal floors in research labs.
Sony's 3D audio immerses you in a vivid soundscape where every rustle, roar, and echo brings the environments to life. Pinpoint directional audio lets you track dinosaurs moving through ventilation systems, hear distant screams from other survivors, and identify threats before they become visible. This spatial audio creates constant tension—you're never quite sure if that sound came from behind you or around the next corner.
The game runs exclusively on PS5, taking full advantage of the console's capabilities. TeamKill Media has stated they lack the manpower to bring the game to Xbox consoles, and there are no plans for a PC release. The studio cited concerns about maintaining narrative integrity and preventing character-altering mods, though this decision sparked controversy given the game's own sexualized costume DLC.
Costumes, Editions, and Christmas Bonuses
Code Violet launches with multiple edition options. The Standard Edition costs $49.99 and includes the base game plus pre-order bonuses. The Digital Deluxe Edition runs $59.99 and adds a Violet Sinclair avatar, the official soundtrack, and five additional outfits: DinoMatrix, Ms. Sassy Sinclair, Star Shadow Siren, Big Sky Cowgirl, and Sugar and Spice.
Pre-ordering either edition grants the Retro American Bombshell Pinup Set (Military Pinup outfit and Pinup Swimsuit outfit), the Annihilator Sub-Machine Gun, and Retro Cherry Pie Earrings. These bonuses lean heavily into sexualized character designs, which created ironic controversy given TeamKill's stated reason for avoiding PC release was fear of "vulgar mods".
As compensation for the delay from November 14 to December 12, all players will receive two exclusive Christmas-themed outfits for Violet at launch. This bonus applies regardless of which edition you purchase.
The Delay and Competition
Code Violet was originally scheduled for November 14, 2025, but TeamKill Media delayed it to December 12 after learning Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 would also launch on November 14. The studio openly acknowledged that competing with such a massive release on a marketing level would be impossible.
TeamKill emphasized they'll use the extra month to enhance character models and optimize the experience for the most polished launch possible. The transparency about avoiding direct competition with Call of Duty shows pragmatic awareness of market realities for small studios—sometimes the best release strategy is simply not releasing alongside industry juggernauts.
TeamKill Media's Track Record
Code Violet represents TeamKill Media's second major project after Quantum Error, a cosmic horror shooter that received mixed reception. Some players express skepticism about Code Violet based on Quantum Error's troubled development and polarizing quality. Others see Code Violet as the studio's opportunity to apply lessons learned and deliver a more focused experience.
The studio's commitment to a tightly focused, story-rich, single-player survival horror experience shows clear intent. Code Violet is deliberately not trying to be a massive open-world or live-service game—it's aiming for a concentrated, narrative-driven experience that respects the classic survival horror formula.
Why Code Violet Matters for Dino Crisis Fans
With Capcom showing no signs of reviving the dormant Dino Crisis franchise, Code Violet represents the closest thing fans will get to a modern entry. The game captures that specific niche of survival horror where dinosaurs—not zombies, not monsters, but actual prehistoric predators—create tension through their presence.
The combination of time travel conspiracy, limited resources, environmental puzzles, and relentless prehistoric threats recalls what made Dino Crisis special while updating it with modern design sensibilities. Whether it can live up to those classic inspirations remains to be seen, but for fans starving for dinosaur survival horror, Code Violet is the only game in town.
Final Thoughts
Code Violet launches December 12, 2025 exclusively for PlayStation 5, bringing third-person survival horror, prehistoric terror, and futuristic conspiracy together in a package priced at $49.99. As Violet Sinclair, you'll navigate the chaos of the Aion Bioengineering Complex, survive rampaging dinosaurs, unravel the dark secrets of the AON Protocol, and fight to escape a future that kidnapped you from the past.
Whether you're a Dino Crisis fan hoping for a spiritual successor, a survival horror enthusiast seeking tense resource management and atmospheric dread, or simply someone intrigued by the premise of time-traveling surrogates and cloned dinosaurs, Code Violet offers a unique blend that stands apart in the horror landscape.
The question isn't whether you'll face terrifying dinosaurs in a futuristic facility—it's whether you'll survive long enough to uncover the conspiracy and make it home alive.
