I’m excited for BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW—but that Deluxe ‘exclusive ending’ and PS5 early access have

Why This Announcement Actually Matters

BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW is the kind of indie horror reveal that catches my eye for two very different reasons. On one hand, a focused, first-person psychological horror game tackling cyberbullying and body image for $19.99 is exactly the sort of mid-price project I want more of. On the other, the Deluxe version includes an “exclusive bonus ending” and a PS5-only 24-hour early access perk for pre-orders-two choices that raise flags in a genre where story is the whole point.

Key Takeaways

• Launches January 16, 2026 on PS5 and Steam; Xbox Series X/S arrives later.
• $19.99 standard, $24.99 Deluxe; Deluxe includes soundtrack, customizable cat companion, extra content, exclusive ending, and PS5-only 24-hour early access for pre-orders.
• First-person psychological horror about social media’s dark side-expect themes like cyberbullying, body dysmorphia, and isolation.
• Standalone story set in the BrokenLore universe; features cameo appearances from influencers like Akidearest and Knite.

Why This Matters Now

Horror has been chewing on internet culture for years, but it’s spiking again as games try to say something meaningful about parasocial pressure and algorithm anxiety. We saw how polarizing that can be with recent social media-centric horror experiments-some nailed the atmosphere but fumbled the messaging. UNFOLLOW explicitly calls out cyberbullying and body dysmorphia, which immediately puts it in the conversation with titles like Silent Hill: The Short Message that tried to handle similar topics. If Serafini Productions brings nuance and not just shock value, this could hit hard with players who want scares that actually say something.

January is also a shrewd release slot. Horror thrives when it’s not buried under fall blockbusters, and an early-year window gives smaller projects room to trend, especially if streamers pick it up. Shochiku Games pushing this via State of Play suggests a real marketing swing, not a quiet niche drop.

Breaking Down the Offer (and the Catch)

Let’s talk value. At $19.99, the standard edition is right in that sweet spot where I don’t need triple‑A production if the atmosphere, pacing, and ideas land. The Deluxe bump to $24.99 adds the soundtrack, a customizable cat companion, extra content, and an exclusive ending. The soundtrack is a nice keep-forever perk for fans. The cat? I’m oddly into it—horror often benefits from a small anchor of warmth, and a companion you can personalize could make tense sequences bearable and memorable, as long as it’s not just decorative fluff.

But here’s the sticking point: gating an ending behind a Deluxe paywall. That’ll rub a lot of story-first horror fans the wrong way, and honestly, I get it. In narrative-driven games, endings aren’t just bonuses—they’re the destination. If this “exclusive bonus ending” is an optional epilogue or a non-canon twist, fine, clarify it. If it meaningfully changes the conclusion, it starts to feel like day-one DLC déjà vu, and that’s the kind of nickel-and-diming this community pushes back on. My advice: if BrokenLore’s lore threads are your jam and you hate missing narrative bits, budget the extra five bucks. If you’re just here for a single scary night, the standard should still deliver a complete story—assuming the devs respect that line.

The PS5-only 24-hour early access for pre-orders is a softer annoyance. A day isn’t much, but it’s yet another platform perk that makes the launch feel uneven. It reads like a marketing tie-in rather than a development constraint. If you play on Xbox, you’re waiting “to follow” with no date yet—likely not long, but still a small bummer.

The Gamer’s Perspective on the Game Itself

The pitch is classic psychological horror: you’re Anne, reliving trauma while dodging grotesque watchers in a surreal maze of symbolism. When this formula sings, it’s because the metaphors click with the mechanics—think puzzles that echo the character’s anxieties, stealth that feels like social scrutiny, environments that shift like a doomscroll. Serafini Productions talks up interconnected clues across the series, but each entry stands alone; that’s exactly what newcomers need. As someone who dips into a lot of indie horror, I’ll take “cohesive two-to-four-hour nightmare with thematic teeth” over a padded eight-hour slog any day.

The influencer cameos (Akidearest, Knite) are a wild card. Used sparingly, they can make a social-media story feel authentic; overdone, they’ll date the game fast or break immersion. I’m hoping for fictionalized roles that support the theme, not winky cameos that yank you out of the dread. Either way, it signals the team knows exactly which audience they’re courting: online communities that live and breathe this stuff.

Tone-wise, the customizable cat companion could be a smart pressure valve. Horror needs rhythm, and a familiar anchor between scares can keep players from burning out. Give the cat a purpose—guidance, quiet puzzle hints, or even a mechanic that reacts to Anne’s stress—and it goes from trinket to standout feature.

Looking Ahead

Shochiku’s relatively new game division backing Serafini Productions gives me some confidence that this isn’t a throwaway release. The State of Play spotlight helps too. Still, the heavy subject matter demands careful writing and thoughtful content warnings. Horror that mines real pain without empathy earns the backlash it gets; horror that gives players space and agency can be cathartic. That’s the line UNFOLLOW has to walk.

Practical advice: don’t pre-order just for a 24-hour head start. Wait for hands-on impressions to confirm the Deluxe ending is truly “bonus” and not the definitive closer. If the standard edition delivers a complete narrative and the mechanics back the themes, BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW could be a smart, affordable scare to kick off 2026.

TL;DR

BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW lands Jan 16, 2026 on PS5 and Steam (Xbox later) at $19.99, or $24.99 with extras. The premise is strong and timely, but locking an ending behind Deluxe and PS5-only early access are eyebrow-raisers. If the writing sticks the landing, this could be the first great indie horror of 2026—just vet the Deluxe details before you buy.